Ronald James Richards

Ronald James Richards, 86, departed this life on Wednesday morning, November 26, 2025, from complications of Parkinson's disease at Hospice House, Boardman, in the presence of his loving family.

He was born on November 2, 1939 in East St. Louis, IL, to the late James V. and Georgia F. (Green) Richards.

Ron married Gwendolyn Sue Hestand on August 25, 1962 and remained a devoted and adoring husband throughout their 63 years of marriage.

Ron graduated from Belleville High School in Belleville, IL in 1957 and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in psychology, master's degree in education and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. He and Gwen moved with their young son, Adam James, to the Youngstown area in 1970 when he accepted a faculty position at Youngstown State University in the Department of Guidance and Counseling, School of Education. They welcomed their daughter, Natalie Beth, later that year and moved to Canfield, where they still reside.

In 1975 Ron was on the founding board of Youngstown Christian School, now Valley Christian Schools. As chair of the department, Dr. Richards completed the CACREP, a state accreditation council overseeing graduate level counseling programs. During his tenure at YSU he also expanded the Summer Seminar Program and created a Christian counseling course for students who wished to specialize in a faith-based approach to counseling. He remained on the faculty until his retirement in 1996, and was then conferred as Professor Emeritus. Ron then continued counseling in private practice, where he truly integrated his faith, using the Bible as the basis for direction, explanation and hope. He touched countless lives with his loving and Godly counsel.

Ron enjoyed competitive games of handball, racquetball, and squash with other faculty members at YSU, but chose to spend most of his free time with his wife and children. Together they made numerous trips "back home" to St. Louis and Kansas City to be with extended family. They looked forward to their annual vacations in Cape Cod, MA and later to Hilton Head Island, SC. They also made many hiking excursions to West Virginia, and trips to numerous points of historical and cultural significance.

Above all, Ron strove to know and to do God's will. He was strong in his convictions, measured and articulate in his speech, and had a gentle and reserved spirit, acting in love and always considering others before himself. Ron was both a gentle man and a gentleman, and enjoyed a variety of music, literature and poetry, and he appreciated aesthetic beauty in all of its forms.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, James and Georgia Richards; in-laws, Robert and Kathryn Hestand; a sister, Carol Jean; an uncle, Charles Green, who was like a brother; and his beloved son, Adam James Richards.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Gwen; daughter, Natalie Richards (Warner) of Canfield; daughter-in-law, Wendy Richards of Canfield; grandchildren, Addison James Richards, Claire Louise (Karl) Reph, Becket James Richards, Eleanor Gayle Richards, Isaac James Richards, and Nathanael Blake Warner; great-grandson, Rowan James Reph; a brother, Roger (Judy) Richards of Millstadt, IL; and sister, Marcia Phillips of St. Louis, MO; and many nieces and a nephew.

Family and friends may pay their respects from 5 to 7 PM Tuesday, December 2 at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, 3701 Starr's Centre Drive.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30 PM Wednesday December 3 at the funeral home, where a visitation will be held again from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, Ohio 44514 or The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 1300 Martin Luther King Blvd., Youngstown, Ohio 44510.