Francis R. Richardson, Jr.

Francis R. “Frank” Richardson, Jr., age 91 years, of Hopewell, NJ, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Morris Hall, Lawrence Township, NJ

Born in Hamilton Township in a row home on Adela Avenue on November 5, 1925, he was the son of the late Francis and Mary Schmidt Richardson. He lived with his parents on Victor Avenue through the Depression and attended Farmingdale, Greenwood, Kuser Annex Schools, and graduated from Hamilton High in 1944 in a ceremony at the War Memorial. He had resided in Hopewell since 1964.

Mr. Richardson was a United States Army veteran of World War II serving in the Philippines and later in General MacArthur’s headquarters at the Dai-ichi Building in Tokyo after the war. Like many other returning veterans, he used the GI Bill and graduated college from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces in 1951. Later, he completed a Masters degree in business at the University of Maryland and worked in the accounting division at The Prudential West Coast headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles for 4 years.

He toured Europe in 1956-57 on a motorcycle and met his future wife, Maria, on an overnight train between Barcelona and Valencia, Spain. She was working as an actress in a theatrical company traveling to Valencia. They married in Barcelona in September, 1957.

He returned to the States and to New Mexico State University and earned a Masters degree in history while working nights at the White Sands Missile Range reading rocket tapes for the military. Upon returning to NJ, he accepted a teaching position at Hunterdon Central High School in 1961. It was here in Flemington that he settled and developed friendships with both students and staff that would last a lifetime. In addition to teaching history (his first love), many remember him as the Audiovisual director in the library. Later in his career, he also taught Spanish.

He was a member of the Hopewell Leisure Club, the VFW, the American Legion, and the Doylestown Hispanic Society. He met regularly with former students at the Country Griddle. He belonged to numerous historical organizations and was an integral member of the Hunterdon Central High School 50th anniversary celebration.

His wife, Maria Salvador Richardson, died in 2010. Surviving are his son, Frank Richardson and daughter-in-law Laura, of Ringoes, and three grandchildren: Natalie, Patrick, and Ryan Richardson. He has an extended family in Hamilton Township and in the Barcelona area.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 3, 2017 at 11 AM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton Township, NJ. Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 3, 2017 from 9:30 AM until time of service in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hopewell Fire Department and EMU, 4 Columbia Ave., Hopewell, NJ 08525.