Thomas James Richards entered Heaven on June 23,2023 from Denton, Texas at the age of 93.  He was born to Earl Lanus Richards & Weria Pearl Hammonds Richards on July 1, 1929 in Ladonia, Texas.

He was saved at the age 12 at a brush arbor meeting in Spade, Texas. Thomas spent tours of duty with both U.S. Army and the United States Marine Corp. He was called to preach at the age of 19 and enrolled in the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In February 1951 He met the love of his life, Charlene Yeatts while attending The Billy Graham crusade at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Ft Worth, Texas. They were married on July 29, 1951 in Denton, Texas. After this they enrolled in Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

In May of 1953 their son Nathan Earl was born. In 1956 they moved to Wichita, Kansas to help Bro. Art Wilson at Wichita Baptist Tabernacle. In October of 1959 their daughter Paula Sue was born. In 1962 they moved back to Denton, Texas. He was a faithful member of Maranatha Baptist Church for 56 years. Thomas owned & operated Richards' Janitor Service from 1965 to 2018.

He is predeceased by his parents, his wife Charlene, his brother Joe Richards and his daughter Paula Sue Johnston. He is survived by his son & daughter-in-law Nathan & Christina Richards. Eight grandchildren: Rachel (Timothy) Moore; Naomi (Kane) Webb, Jeremiah (Sharon) Richards; Benjamin (Lindsey) Richards; Sarah (Zane) Webb; Esther (Jeff) Lollar-Hansen; Lydia (Eric) Ortiz; Luke Johnston. Thirty-five great-grandchildren: Paul, Samuel, Hannah, Bethany, Ruth & James Moore; Alissa, Savanna, Levi, Kayla & Montana Webb; Raeg'n, Riley, Raylee Richards; Brianna, Josie, Brays'n, Aiden, baby coming in October Richards; Bradley, Preston, Trenton & Kassidy Webb; Caleb, Elizabeth, Emily, Brooklyn, Chloe Lollar, Brandon, Micah, Marcus, Grayson, Joshua & Gracie Hansen; Jorden ( Mar) Hansen & Mia Johnston. One great great grandson James Hansen. Three sisters Alma Mote, Wanda Gering, Laverne Whitehead. Brother & Sister-in-law: C.L. & Nancy Yeatts.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust St., Denton. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 29, 2023 at Maranatha Baptist Church, 1301 Audra Lane, Denton. Interment will be at the Richards Family Cemetery near Collinsville.