Kenneth Francis Richards passed away January 1, 2023 in McKinney, Texas at the age of 88. He was born to Francis and Colastina (Songster) Richards on August 29, 1934 in Grand Riviere, The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Kenneth graduated from high school in Trinidad. He married Cynthia Quildon on August 30, 1959 at the Arouca Roman Catholic Church, Arouca, Trinidad. Kenneth completed his Bachelors in Trinidad, and also received additional schooling at the University of Southampton in England. He taught Mathematics and Geography for many years at the Teachers’ Training College in Trinidad. In 1999 he immigrated to the United States with his wife. They lived in Nutley, New Jersey, before relocating to Washington, D.C., where he taught in the DCPS school system for 9 years.
Kenneth and his wife then moved to Texas in 2009 where he began working as a substitute teacher in North Dallas for another 10 years. Additionally, he also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club. Kenneth was a strong, honest man who treated everyone fairly. His students became his friends and everyone who knew him loved him. Kenneth had a great mind; he could tell stories from long ago that happened in Trinidad and Tobago, yet still talk about the current geo-political climate today.
For 63 years, Kenneth was a gentleman to his wife. He helped carry her purse and water, and always held doors open for her. Together, Kenneth and Cynthia loved watching tennis and golf. Kenneth also shared his love for wrestling with his stepfather, Wilfred. He loved all his family more than anything and was proud of the accomplishments of all his children and later on, those of his children’s spouses. This family included his dogs, including his favorite breeds, Doberman Pinschers in Trinidad, and more recently Bassett Hounds introduced by his daughter-in-law, Molly. He was a part-time caretaker to his son and daughter-in-law’s three dogs.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Cynthia Richards of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Marcia Richards of Pearland, Texas; daughter, Nicole Richards and husband, Richard Delpozo of Trinidad; and son, Wesley Richards and wife, Molly of McKinney, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Percy Joseph and Ernal “Nalo” Joseph, and his mother and stepfather, Colastina and Wilfred Elie.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. The family will receive guests for a visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Friday morning at the funeral home.
The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Kenneth’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/kenneth-francis-richards. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.