Thomas Joe Richardson

Thomas “Tom” Joe Richardson, 83, passed away peacefully on Aug. 31, 2025, in Springfield, after a long illness.
He was born in Lafayette, Ind. on Dec. 20, 1941. He was the last born, and until his passing, the final surviving child of Kenneth F. Richardson and Juanita (Kellar) Richardson.
He was a graduate of Jefferson High School, Lafayette, and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. While in high school, Tom was very athletic, participating in basketball, football, track, gymnastics, cheerleading and wrestling.
He married Nancy Lee Burke on May 4, 1963, in Lafayette. After marriage and while starting a family, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Recreation from Purdue. Using that knowledge and his experience working at the Lafayette YMCA and the Community Center of Lafayette, he co-founded the Boys’ Club of Tippecanoe County, becoming its first Executive Director where he remained until 1978. Tom took early retirement from his position as a maintenance worker for the City of Springfield and Springfield Airport to become the sole caregiver for his wife until her passing in 2013. In his retirement, he worked part-time as greeter at Food 4 Less in Springfield where he formed a circle of friendships he treasured. Tom was also preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Matthew David Boone.
He is survived by his three children: Bradley Varden Richardson, of Paxton, Ill.; Jennifer Jo Joy (Rick) of Springfield; and Rachel Sue Campbell (Glen), of Springfield; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Tom requested that any voluntary donations be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Alumni Association, Attn: Randy Carpenter, Treasurer, 1410 N. Fremont, Springfield, MO 65802.
Services are being arranged by Greenlawn Funeral Home South. At Tom’s request, services will be graveside Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at 1 pm, Brookline Cemetery in Brookline.