GROVELAND — Gerald Ivor Richards, most recently of Groveland, passed away peacefully on April 6 at the age of 96.
He was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Nelson M. and Ethel (McIvor) Richards. He grew up in Lynn, having come to the U.S. at the age of 5 months. He obtained his U.S. citizenship at 17 and graduated from Lynn English High School in 1941.
Right out of high school, he joined the Navy and served in the Naval Armed Guard protecting merchant ships from 1942-1945. After his discharge, Gerry worked for General Electric for 39 years as a generator field specialist, retiring in 1987. Between his WWII service and GE world travel, he had been to 69 different countries.
Gerald, also known as Mickey, Uncle Jed, Grampy, Gramps, Great Grampy, Gerry, and Dad, will always be remembered for his giving nature, sense of humor, love of hunting and fishing, and his love of family and friends.
He was a devoted husband to his wife of 63 years, Barbara Jean (LeFave), who passed away in 2013.
During a life well lived, full of adventure and enduring friendships, Gerry touched hundreds of lives around the world. He was a longtime member of the Odd Fellows and Masons, and the American Legion. He will be missed by everyone.
He was predeceased by his wife, parents and siblings, Ruth, Earl, Rita and Betty. He was the last in his family of his generation. He is survived by his two sons, Earl and his wife, Kathy, of Amesbury, and Bruce and his wife, Jackie, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. He was a loving and proud Grampy to Joshua, Kate, Jordan, Grant, Guy, Matthew and Kayla; and Great Grampy to Saige, Sydney, Cameron, Ava and Natalie. Uncle Jed/Mickey will be missed by many nieces and nephews.
Service information: Gerry’s family wishes to acknowledge and thank Melissa and Dawn from Constellation Health Services, the staff in the GPU at Nashoba Valley Medical Center, the staff at Merrimack Valley Health Center and Brookhaven Hospice for all their care and help over the last several months.
Service information: A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, April 13 at PAUL C. ROGERS Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Ave., Amesbury. A 10 a.m. visitation will precede the 11 a.m. service. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Nathan M. Webster American Legion, Post 248, c/o Robert O’Hanley, 29 Fairview Circle, Groveland, MA 01834.
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