Obituary of Robert Richardson

Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Richardson Robert A. “Bob” Richardson was born at Shambaugh, IA on October 11, 1937 to Horace E. and Ruth E. (Downing) Richardson. He passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at North Mississippi Medical Center in West Point, MS. Mr. Richardson attended school in Shambaugh and College Springs and graduated from Clarinda High School in 1956. As a national Merit Scholar, he completed his undergraduate studies at Park College, Parkville, MO. While there he was awarded Danforth and Woodrow Wilson scholarships for post-graduate studies and received a PhD in philosophy from Yale University in 1968. He was a life-long educator. He was a faculty member at Cornell College, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Shimer College and for 32 years was a professor at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. Bob was an avid and serious writer. He was selected to participate in workshops at the University of Iowa’s “Writer’s Workshop” and another in Dublin, Ireland. Bob had five books in print: “Another Music”, “Promptings of Necessity”, “Spacebook: The Novel”, “Morning Songs“, and “Biggins”. He published numerous articles written for periodicals. He was a man of diverse interests. At various times he was an auctioneer, manager of a summer stock theater, manager of an “Elder Hostel”, a fan of opera and the developer of a website dedicated to livestock husbandry and conservation practices. Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother Charles A. Richardson and nephew E. Paul Reedy. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Nona E. Lynn Richardson of Starkville, MS, daughter N. Lynn Peterson of Starkville, Son Ross A. Richardson of Ashland, MO; grandchildren Grant Peterson and Lindy Peterson; sister Mary (Ron) Reedy of Humboldt, IA; brother Ronald (Susan) Richardson of Clarinda, IA; and nieces and nephews. Lowndes Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements in Mississippi. Plans for a future memorial gathering in Iowa will be coordinated by Walker-Merrick-Eickemeyer Funeral Home of Clarinda, IA.