1945 – 2003

LEWISTON – Donald P. Richards, 57, of the Farmington Road, Strong, died Thursday morning, July 17, at St. Mary’s Hospital following a short illness.

He was born Sept. 26, 1945, in Farmington, the son of Philip W. and Mildred Ella (Huff) Richards. A life-long resident of Strong, he graduated from Strong High School and graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy where he received his certification as a Law Enforcement Administrator.

On Jan. 28, 1967 he married “the girl next door” V. Jean Knowlan at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Farmington. He was dedicated to his career in law enforcement and took great pride in protecting the citizens of his community and thereby improving the quality of life in Franklin County.

For nine years, he was the Franklin County Sheriff. His 33 year career began in 1967, when he started as a Corrections Officer/Dispatcher. He worked his way up through the ranks under the late Sheriffs Kenneth L. French and Ronald “Pete” Durrell.

He served as Chief Deputy under both Sheriffs and was first appointed Sheriff in 1992 by Gov. McKernan when Sheriff Durrell retired mid-term. While Sheriff, the dispatch center was approved as the Public Safety Answering Point for Franklin County with Enhanced 911.

He was also a private investigator and at the time of his death was employed at Cousineau’s in Strong and was a school bus driver for SAD 58.

In March of 2003, he was elected as Selectman for the Town of Strong and also served on the town’s Planning Board. He was a member of the Maine Municipal Association, the NRA and had been named five times in the Strathmore Book of Who’s Who.

He was a former member of the Farmington Rotary Club, the Knights of Pythias, Farmington Elks and the Maine Sheriff’s Association. Free time was best spent with family and friends. He was a member of Blue Mountain Masonic Lodge 67 of Phillips.

He enjoyed going to the hunting camp in Jim Pond Township on Alder Stream with his hearty supply of candy bars. He always looked forward to family barbecues, Sunday family dinners, camp at Porter Lake where he reluctantly hauled the kids around in the boat and puttering around his yard, making it a popular gathering spot for all family occasions. One of his favorite roles was that of Grandpa.

He is survived by his life-long friend, soulmate and wife of 36 years, V. Jean Richards of Strong; two daughters, Jennifer Piekart and her husband, Tim of Strong and their two daughters, Jean Marie and Johanna; and Jessica Beane and her husband, Dickie of Strong and their two daughters, Lyndsay and Tori; one sister, Sandra Yeaton and her husband, S. Niles Yeaton of Strong and their children, Stephanie Feegel and her husband, Raymond and her son, Damion Chadbourne of Rangeley and S. Michael Yeaton of Strong; his stepfather, Malcolm “Mac” Burdin and his wife Liz of Strong; five stepbrothers, Kendall Burdin and his wife, Ann of Wilton, Jerold Burdin and his wife, Pat of Louisville, Ky., Bobby Burdin and his wife Trish of Phillips, Jimmy Burdin and his wife Babette of Phillips and Timothy Burdin and his wife Sonja of Freeman; his mother-in-law, Rita Knowlan of Strong; several stepnieces, stepnephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father, Philip W. Richards; and his mother, Mildred E. “Tillie” Burdin.