Franklin W Richards

Franklin W. "Frank" Richards passed away from congestive heart failure on January 18, 2017 under hospice care at his home in Allen, Texas at the age of 84. He is preceded in death and has joined his beloved wife Margaret "Margy" Hilterhaus Richards in heaven, his parents Barclay and Mildred Richards, nephew Scott Richards and son-in-law James L. Piker. He is survived by his daughter Bonnie, her husband Michael and grandson Rick; daughter Laurie and grandsons James and John; daughter Cindy, her husband Bill, grandson Addison and granddaughters Victoria and Virginia; brother Donald, his wife Elaine and nephew Glenn.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to the Collin County Master Gardeners Association. Donations will be used to install a bench in the new shade garden at Myers Park in McKinney and support the other Earth-Kind research and demonstration gardens at Myers Park. Send donations to CCMGA at 825 N. McDonald St. #150, McKinney, Texas 75069. Please put "Richards Memorial" in the memo.
Frank was born in Brooklyn, New York but when he was a young boy, his family moved to Woodhaven, New York and lived across the street from his childhood church, St. Luke's Lutheran Church. In high school, Frank excelled at playing basketball on the varsity team and for his church's team as well, once being described in the local newspaper as "almost a one man team as he poured in 33 points" to help St. Luke's defeat the opposing team, St. John's. After he graduated from high school, the manager of his high school's alumni team invited him to play on the alumni team against the current varsity team because of his "outstanding record of the past."

Frank and his father, as well as his brother, were active in Boy Scouts, enjoying many hiking and camping trips in the Northeast. Following high school, Frank attended New York University receiving his bachelor degree as well as a Master of Business Administration. After serving in the U.S. Army during the end of the Korean War, he was discharged and returned home to marry the love of his life, Margaret Hilterhaus to whom he became engaged just prior to entering the army.

Margaret was also born in Brooklyn. Her parents Henry and Betty Hilterhaus immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1920's and moved to Woodhaven when Margaret was a child. Margaret was an only child who loved to draw, paint and garden. She attended St. Luke's and first met Frank at a church picnic. She didn't like him very much and he was dating someone else at the time. Three years later, Frank asked her out on a date and she quickly changed her mind about him. Margaret said she loved him almost from their first date and that they could talk about anything.

Frank and Margaret married after his Army discharge and established their first home in Woodhaven. They would raise three daughters in the greater New York City area, later moving them to North Texas where all three girls met and married their husbands.

While Margaret cared for their home and daughters, Frank worked for a handful of companies before being hired by Mobil Oil Corporation where he enjoyed a 30 year career in tax administration, retiring in 1991 in Virginia as the manager of the tax administration department. Following his retirement, Frank and Margaret returned to Texas and enjoyed traveling, fine dining, gardening and being "empty nesters." Unfortunately, only a few years into retirement Frank faced many health challenges that curtailed their traveling but not their enjoyment of their home and family. While Margaret gardened, tried out new recipes and worked on her needlework, Frank became something of an expert on the Civil War, wine and genealogy. He was also a skilled woodworker, crafting many fine pieces of furniture.

Margaret and Frank's 55 year marriage ended in December of 2011 when she lost her year long battle with cancer of the appendix. Ever devoted to each other, Frank was at her bedside every day during every hospitalization and was present for every chemo and radiation treatment. Heartbroken, Frank's health continued to decline and in his last years he battled congestive heart failure, diabetes, a rare neurological condition, spinal stenosis and other ailments. He soldiered on for his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren until his body wore out and he entered hospice care on November 1, 2016.

Frank had a smile for everyone, even when in extreme pain, was loving, patient and genuinely interested in everyone he met. Friends and caregivers often described him as one of the sweetest men they had ever met. He was deeply in love with his beloved wife Margaret, completely devoted to his daughters and their families, and cared deeply for his brother and his wife, his extended family, his friends, his co-workers and his caregivers. Together, Frank and Margaret created and gifted us all with their legacy of love.

Margaret did not want a memorial service, so none was held respecting her wishes. Frank did not want to be parted from her, so her cremains resided with him. When he passed, one of the last things he looked at was her urn beneath their wedding portrait. Wishing to honor both of their parents and the love they shared, their daughters have planned a joint memorial service at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church, 605 S. Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas. In the spring, both Frank and Margaret will be inurned together at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in a private, family-only ceremony.

The family hopes that you will experience your own legacy of love by accepting the love of Christ, believing that he died and was resurrected for the forgiveness of your sins so that you too may enter the gates of heaven and experience the unsurpassed love of God the Father. Scripture says:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends . . . So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death. Help us to follow in faith where you have led the way that we may fall asleep peacefully in you and awake in your likeness. To you be the honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.