The funeral Mass for Dr. Larry L. Richards was held with his family June 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson. Burial was in the Franklin Township Cemetery, Cooper.
Concelebrants at the Mass of the Resurrection were Fr Ray Higgins of St Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines and Fr John Gerald of St Joseph. Music was provided by Sheilah Pound, accompanied by Lois Last.
Honorary bearers were Max Stover, Dr Harry Taylor, Daniel Shrock, David Richards, Dr James Gallagher, Dr Bhasker Dave and Dr Alan Whitters.
Casket bearers were Edward Gross, Mary Gross, Kathleen Gross, Lara Gross, William Gross, Dr Ralph Kelley, Max Dugger and Larry Wilson.
Dr Larry Leonard “Doc” Richards passed in the loving arms of his family on June 6, 2020. “… The thing that makes you special is your kind and gentle heart. And when a Doctor cares as much as you sincerely do, the world becomes a better place, no doubt, because of you.” ~tribute from his nursing staff
Larry was welcomed on December 24, 1936, by his parents Pearl Prescott and Clara Leonard Richards, and siblings Donald, Robert, Betty, Marion, Tom, William, Kenneth, and Dorothy in Garden Grove. As a 1955 Garden Grove High School graduate, Larry was an All-State musician, football, basketball, track and baseball athlete. Following the steps of his father and five brothers, Larry enlisted in the Navy upon graduation. At Simpson College, Larry served as president of his 1960 centennial class, S Club, Phi Mu Alpha-Sinfonia and co-captain of the Simpson football team. Larry was named as a 1958 All-American Methodist University and College Elevens gridiron football player with qualifications that include “…performed brilliantly on the gridiron.” The All-American team with Larry at the center position was featured in the national Together Journal. He was a member of the Simpson band and Kappa Theta Psi fraternity, and worked as an assistant football coach, dormitory proctor and dining hall head waiter.
It was at Simpson College where Larry met his forever love, Mary Anderson, whom he married on April 23, 1960, in Jefferson. The love of family radiated forever in his life. Earning his music degree in 1960, the “Simpson Sweethearts” taught in Stuart for one year. Larry knew early in his life his purpose was to serve as a physician.
Dr Richards graduated from the Kansas City University of Medicine/KCCOMS where he was involved with the medical school chorale. Larry completed his family practice residency at Mount Clemens General Hospital in Detroit, MI. Upon their return to Iowa, Dr Larry and Mary built the Altoona Medical Center where Doc Richards practiced for seven years and served as the Southeast Polk school physician, leaving for a residency and more time with his family. He encouraged and assisted his children with their music and school lessons and coached his daughters in AAU, ASA and Ankeny sports. He continued to sing in choirs and play in bands.
After completion of his board-certified psychiatric physician residency, Drs Larry and Mary established the Richards Psychiatric Center in Des Moines. Dr Richards introduced electro-convulsive therapy under anesthesia to the Des Moines area and served as medical director at Charter Psychiatric Hospital. He was on the hospital medical staffs at Des Moines General, Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran and Mercy. Dr Richards worked with law enforcement to take his patients for stabilization to the hospital rather than jail.
Dr Richards completed a child and adolescent fellowship as chief fellow in the psychiatry department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His published research areas included electro-convulsive therapy, child adolescent school phobia, school refusal, avoidance disorders. Dr Richards served as University of Iowa assistant clinical professor practicing as a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatric physician at Tanager Place and Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids, and medical staff at Saint Luke and Mercy hospitals. He enjoyed lecturing at professional conferences and teaching medical students and residents during his 53 years of practice. Always an advocate for family practice physicians, it was with joy his daughter became Dr Jennifer.
As members of St. Theresa Catholic Church (Des Moines) and St. Joseph Catholic Parish (Jefferson), Drs Richards and Bishop Richard Pates began the annual Mass for Mental Health Awareness in the Des Moines Diocese. Annually Drs Larry and Mary Richards met with the governor of Iowa for the signing of the Proclamation for Children and Adolescent Mental and Brain Health Awareness Day.
Dr Richards is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). He holds life membership in the American Osteopathic Association, APA, AACAP, American Legion-Garden Grove and Albaugh McGovern posts.
Dr Richards served on the boards of the Iowa Psychiatric Physicians Society (Public Affairs), Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, Ankeny Youth Sports, and Gov. Branstad’s policy committee on organ transplants.
His loving survivors include Mary, his wife for 60 years; daughters Dr Jennifer Elizabeth Richards (Dan) and Melinda Kathleen (William) Gross; grandchildren Mary Gross, Edward Gross, Kathleen Gross and Lara Gross; sister Dorothy; brother Gary; nephews and nieces; and forever friends.
His joy of agriculture and gardening with formulas was taught to his children on how to grow Doc Richards tomatoes and potatoes which he gave to others, vegetables, and peonies on the Richards’ Century Farm.
He was a member of Des Moines Metro Opera, SAPIC, Iowa Barn Foundation.
Dr Richards’ legacy continues under the aegis of Mary to observe Children Mental Health Awareness Day and the Mass for Mental Health Awareness.
Larry ‘performed brilliantly on the gridiron’ and in this world as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, physician, community leader. Have Hope!
The family is assisted by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.
