Albert Joseph Richards Jr.

Albert Joseph Richards, Jr., age 94, passed away on Feb. 14, 2016.

His 64 years in Spokane included attending St. Anthony Grade School, North Central High School and Gonzaga University. He served in the Merchant Marine Corps during WWII and attended the Merchant Marine Academy.

In 1947, he married Jay Close and they raised four children: Joyce, Pam, Matthew and Leslie. His successful 35-year career in the life insurance business ended in 1985 when he retired to Whidbey Island.

Al enjoyed the outdoors and loved his hunting dogs. He hunted deer, upland game birds and waterfowl with his many friends and brother Bob Richards. He enjoyed salmon and crab fishing from his own boat. He was an active golf enthusiast who started with the Inland Empire Golf Association. He was a member of the Spokane Country Club (he was a five handicap) and was later the 1996 Senior Club Champion at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Whidbey Island. Al competed in several golf tournaments.

He moved from Whidbey Island in 2012 and spent his last years at Marica’s Adult Family Home in Bellevue.

A memorial will be held from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Useless Bay Country Club, 5725 Country Club Drive, Langley, Whidbey Island, WA 98260.

A Catholic funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at St. Thomas More Parish, 515 W St. Thomas More Way, Spokane, WA 99208. Following the service, there will be a light lunch. The interment will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery, N 7200 W. Wall St., Spokane, WA, 99208.