J.D. ‘Dave’ Richards

FRANKLIN

J.D. “Dave” Richards, 75, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Franklin. He was a resident of Franklin.

He was born on Nov. 30, 1939, in Indianapolis to Andrew J. and Louise (Brock) Richards.

He married Wanda (Coffey) Richards on March 22, 1963. She survives in Franklin.

Also surviving are one daughter, Beth (Doug) Houshour of Whiteland; one son, Andrew J. Richards of Franklin; grandsons, J.D. Houshour and Jon Houshour; and one brother, Dale (Pam) Richards of Whiteland.

He was preceded in passing by his parents.

J.D. attended Indianapolis Public Schools and was a 1957 graduate of Union High School. He graduated in 1962 from Franklin College.

J.D. joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1957. After college, he became active with the U.S. Marines in 1962, serving in the Vietnam War and retiring after 37 years of service as a lieutenant colonel. While in the Marines, J.D. attended and graduated from the Aerial Observation School, Ranger School and Paratrooper School. While in Vietnam, he served in the 2nd Recon division as a forward observer on the aerial observation team.

After the Marines, J.D. taught school at Center Grove and Franklin. While teaching, in the summers he worked for the Franklin Police Department.

In 1970, he attended the Indiana Police Academy and began his law enforcement career with the Indiana State Police for 24 years, retiring in 1995.

He was a founding member and served on the SWAT team from June 1974 to June 1989.

In 1995, J.D. ran for sheriff of Johnson County and served two terms from 1995 to 2002 as sheriff.

After retiring, he enjoyed working for the Indiana State Senate in the copying room. He also enjoyed being involved with COPS for nine years.

He was a member of Franklin American Legion Post 205, where he was on the military honor guard conducting military honors for many years.

He was a member of Union Village Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star; Devol Masonic Lodge at the Indiana Masonic Home; High Twelve Club; Indianapolis Valley of Scottish Rite and the Murat Shrine. He also was a member of the Indianapolis Shrine Club and the Johnson County Shrine Club. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and Lambda Chi Fraternity. J.D. was a Kentucky Colonel.

A celebration of J.D.’s life will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, where military and police honors will be conducted.

Online condolences may be made at www.flinnmaguire.net.