Ronald Richards

Ron Richards, Certified Financial Planner, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Ron was born July 31, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Mountain Brook, Alabama. He was the son of Allen Louis Richards and Eva England Richards. Ron attended Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama. He was a member of ATO Fraternity, and was a devoted Alabama football fan. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Following a highly successful 25-year career in the supermarket industry in Birmingham, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, Ron entered the financial services industry in 1990. In 1997, he became a Certified Financial Planner. He was Past President of the Gulf States Chapter of the Financial Planning Association and was President of Ron Richards Financial Planning. Ron served as Commodore of Pensacola Yacht Club for two terms in 2000 and 2001. He was responsible for establishing a long-term endowment, the Legacy Wheel, to ensure the future of the Yacht Club. In 2008, Ron served as Commodore of the Gulf Yachting Association, was Commodore and a Charter Member of the Florida Commodore's Association, and a member of the International Commodore's Association. Ron was active on numerous boards including Baptist Medical Park Navarre Community Advisory Board, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ron was also a Big Brother and for a time, he and his wife Innes were Foster Parents to his Little Brother. Ron was a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Navarre in 1995 where he served as Club President for the 1998/99 Rotary year. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Navarre Club's Scholarship Fund, and his club was awarded the Presidential Citation for its outstanding performance. In 2003, due to the relocation of his business, Ron left the Navarre Club, and was elected into membership at the Rotary Club of Pensacola. During 2006/07 he served as President of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola, a president's council for the 12 clubs in the area. In the first election by ballot in Rotary District 6940 history, he was elected District Governor nominee in 2007 and served as Governor in 2008-09. During that year he was responsible for the formation of the Seville Rotary Club in Pensacola, and a Group Study Exchange with Milan, Italy. Ron had 15 years of perfect attendance, was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the 6940 Paul Harris Society, Major Donor, and a member of the Bequest Society. He was a discussion leader for the Rotary Leadership Institute, and Master Evaluator for All Florida President-Elect Training Seminar. Ron has been involved in local, district, state, and international projects. Ron enjoyed a lifetime of sailing and more recently became an avid RVer as he and Innes traveled throughout Florida and the Gulf Coast in his roles with Rotary and yachting. While in Birmingham, Ron was a member of the Vestavia Country Club and Downtown Club, and member of St. Mary's on the Highlands Church. He and his wife Innes have been parishioners of Christ Episcopal Church in Pensacola, Florida. Ron Richards is survived by his wife of 33 years, Innes Comer Smith (Cameron); his sisters, Wanda Richards Brown of Atlanta, Georgia, and Pamela Richards (Mrs. Rick) Vines, of Gulf Shores, and a brother-in-law, Edward Samuel Smith, Jr. of Pell City, Alabama; three nieces, Valerie Brown (Mrs. Christopher) Mazzotti of Asheville, North Carolina, Merrill Innes (Mrs. Richard) Hudgins, of Marion, Virginia, Catharine Evelyn Smith, of Pikesville, North Carolina; two nephews, Jackson Allen Brown of Atlanta Georgia, and James Rudeen of San Jose, California. He is also survived by his Goddaughter, Melissa Abele (Mrs. Caine) Hill of Homewood, Alabama. The family will receive visitors at Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday, May 16. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 20, at Christ Episcopal Church in Pensacola at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Greenpond Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Greenpond, Alabama, at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (879-3401) in Homewood, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation, or the charity of your choice.

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Monday, May 16, 2011
4:00 PM

Service

Graveside Service

Grenn Pond Presbyterian Church Cemetery
65 Presbyterian Church Road
Grenn Pond, AL
Saturday, May 21, 2011
1:00 PM

Memorial Service

Christ Episcopal Church
18 W. Wright St.
Pensacola, FL  32501
Friday, May 20, 2011
10:30 AM