Jack Leroy Richardson

Wilson – A Celebration of Life services for Mr. Jack LeRoy “Big Jack” Richardson, 87, of Ardmore, are scheduled for 2:00 PM Friday, January, 21, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church of Wilson with Rev. Sherry Kendrick officiating. Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery in Wilson. Services are under the direction of Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson.

Jack was born August 13, 1923 at Tuttle, OK to the late Mr. Kennard Perry Richardson and Mrs. Bessie (Gold) Richardson. He departed this life Monday evening, January 17, 2011 at Ardmore.

Jack graduated from Tuttle High School and then joined the United States Army in 1942 to serve his country during WWII. While stationed in England, he met the love of his life, the former Ms. Dorothy Pearl London. They were married in Darsham Village of Suffolk, England on April 2, 1945. To this union arrived two wonderful daughters, Carol and Debbie. After the War, he returned to Oklahoma with his new bride. They resided in Weatherford, OK, where Jack attended Southwestern State College. Upon graduation, he taught Math, Science and Shop classes in Taloga and Camargo while he furthered his education at Phillips University in Enid. There he completed his Masters Degree in Education.

In 1954 he signed up with the Department of Defense to serve as School Administrator at the Military Bases. He and Dorothy spent six years in England and one year in Tripolie, North Africa before returning to Oklahoma in 1961. From 1961 until 1967 he served as the High School Principal and then Superintendent of the Wilson Public Schools, where he was known as “Big Jack” to all the students. While in Wilson he worked on his doctorate degree at North Texas State University in Denton, TX. In 1967 he returned to the military schools, serving as School Administrator in Bermuda, Iceland and Azores, Portugal. Upon his retirement from the Department of Defense in 1986, he and Dorothy settled in Ardmore and in 1987 and he joined H & R Block as a Tax Preparer until his second retirement in 2004. Jack attended the First United Methodist Church of Wilson and was very active in the local chapters of AARP and the National Association Retired Federal Employees.

Preceding him in death are his Parents, and brother, Wayne Richardson.

Survivors include his loving wife Dorothy of the home; daughters, Carol Mitchell and husband Bill of Springer, and Debbie Schaef of Lubbock, TX; grandchildren, Shane Schaef and wife Casey of Amarillo, TX, Jessica Schaef of Kansas City, KS; great granddaughter Addison Schaef of Amarillo, TX.

Casket Bearers are Shane Schaef, Justin Nekouee, Frank Orebaugh, Lonnie Cox, Kenny Mitchell and Don Isbell.

Family visitation will be from 6 to 7 pm Thursday evening at Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson.

In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Building Fund of the First United Methodist Church of Wilson, P.O. Box 235, Wilson, OK 73463.

Condolences may be sent online to the family at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org