RUMFORD – Armand Joseph Richards, “Sneezy” “Sargent AJ,” 86, died peacefully at his summer residence on Aug. 27, with his family by his side.

He was born in Rumford on April 2, 1919, the son of William and Mary (Legere) Richards.

He later married Phyllis Kaulback in Rumford on Sept. 8, 1947.

He attended Stephens High School with the Class of 1937.

He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in New Zealand, the Philippines and New Guinea during World War II, where he was injured and awarded the Purple Heart.

After returning from the war, he owned and operated Jake’s Taxi Cab with his dad, and worked in the rewinder division at Oxford Paper Co., retiring from Boise Cascade Paper Co. in 1982.

He was a staff sergeant in the Company B Army National Guard.

He was a communicant of St. Athanasius & St. John Catholic Church, and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Some of his many interests included Thursday poker night, horse racing, cribbage, pool, and the Oxford Lanes bowling team.

He especially loved spending time with his wife, five children, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, and entertaining at Worthley Pond.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, of 57 years; daughter, Diane and husband, Robert Milligan, of Rumford Point, daughter, Joanne Woods of Peru and David Woods of Canton, daughter, Suzanne and husband, Roland Bousquet, of Mexico, daughter, Louanne and husband, Michael Thibodeau, of Rumford Center, son, Michael Richards of Boston, Mass.; grandsons, Tony Milligan, Craig Woods, Jamie Woods, Tadd Woods, Dustin Woods and Zachary Thibodeau; granddaughters, Tammy Nosek, Teatra Bousquet, Melissa Thibodeau, Lacey Bousquet and Meagan Thibodeau; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Other survivors include a brother, Harvey and wife, Dora Richards, of Weymouth, Mass., sister, Lorena and husband, Gene Crosby, of Sun Valley, Calif., sister, Ann and husband, John Kezal, of Rumford Center; and many other family members and close “special” friends.

He was predeceased by his sister, Anita and her husband, Eddie Chaisson, of Van Nuys, Calif.

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