James B. Richardson

James “Jim” Richardson of Deerfield Twp., Ohio, died on October 10, 2020, at the age of 64, but his larger-than-life personality, timeless words of “wisdom,” and trademark stubbornness won’t be forgotten.

Jim was born on August 26, 1956, in Springfield, Ohio, the youngest son of the late Earl Silas and Mattie Richardson. He is predeceased by his brother, Earl Silas “Bud” Richardson, Jr., and survived by his siblings, Bonnie Gregory (nee Richardson), of Mason, Ohio, and Roger Richardson, of Florida; as well as by his former wife, Norma Richardson, of Maineville, Ohio, with whom he fathered four children; and many nieces and nephews.

A 1974 Reading High School graduate, Jim worked in the credit card processing industry for much of his career. His most esteemed position and the one job his family could say he actually truly enjoyed was as building services supervisor at Spirit of America National Bank in Milford, Ohio. Jim despised authority figures, dressing up, pretentious know-it-alls, eggs on Frisch’s burgers, and both Donald Trump and Mitch “O’Connell.” But Jim had many loves, too. Ever the foodie, he had a lifelong love affair with Frisch’s Big Boys and onion rings, and was a connoisseur of White Castle burgers, butter pecan ice cream, fried fish sandwiches, and Little Debbie cakes. He loved spending a quiet day fishing at a lake, collecting foreign currency from far flung places he would never set eyes on, rooting for the Bengals to one day reach the playoffs, receiving letters from the child in a developing nation who he sponsored for years, talking baby-talk to his cat Molly (deceased), and gabbing with friends, old and new.

Mostly, though, Jim deeply loved his four children, each of whom he was so proud of and bragged about even to strangers he’d just met. His sense of family responsibility and desire to be the father his children deserve lives on in his oldest son, Jim Richardson (Christie Richardson), of Batavia Twp., Ohio, as he now successfully navigates fatherhood to his own three children. Famously stubborn and argumentative, Jim handed his qualities down to his daughter, Rachel Richardson (Brandon Kinman), of Milford, Ohio, who finds these traits that once so annoyed her father to be rather advantageous now that she is in law school.

Jim’s sideline pride and reliable presence at his children’s sports games and extracurricular activities lives on in his son, David Richardson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who carries on that same tradition now with his own son. And a renowned people-pleaser to a fault, Jim’s kind heart -- which wasn’t always apparent due to his sometimes fragile fear of rejection -- shines on in his youngest daughter Megan Blanton (Travis Blanton), of Amelia, Ohio, who has always been the family’s joy.

Jim also leaves behind as his legacy six beautiful grandchildren: Chase (10), Eli (8), Josh (5), Klara (4), Abby (2), and Charlotte (9 months).

In lieu of flowers, the family thinks Jim would get a kick out of people doing an unexpected act of kindness for someone who needs some cheer. He liked being able to help connect someone to much-needed services or would just sit and listen to a stranger who needed to tell their story. Donations to Warren County Community Services, 570 N. State Route 741, Lebanon, Ohio, 45036, an organization that assisted him greatly in his last few years, are also appreciated.

Those who would like to remember Jim are invited to a socially distanced memorial service from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, at the American Legion Victor Stier Post #450, 111 Victor Stier Dr., Milford, Ohio, 45150.