Howard Ronnie Richards

Howard Ronnie Richards, 73, passed away on Nov 8, 2023. Ronnie was born on April 24, 1950 in Kingsport, Tennessee. He graduated from Fall Branch High School in 1969 and immediately began working at the Tennessee Eastman Chemical Company from which he retired in 2002. He served in the National Guard from 1970-76. He lived in Fall Branch his entire life, before moving three years ago to Church Hill to be near his daughter.

Ronnie enjoyed the outdoors, especially spending time in the Great Smoky Mountains. He had a wide variety of hobbies from playing the guitar and harmonica to fishing and painting outdoor scenes. Each summer he enjoyed putting out a large garden in his backyard. One of his proudest accomplishments was being a father.

Ronnie Richards is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betty, his daughter Rhonda, two aunts Judy Fleenor Light Coffey and Eula Mae Fleenor Hughes, several cousins, and special friends Johnny and Brenda Myers and Jimmy and Judy Joyce.

In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes spread in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.