CANTON – Elmer Richards, 89, of Wilton, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Victorian Villa Nursing Home, where he had been a resident for a number of years.

He was born Aug. 15, 1919, in Jay, the son of Charles and Edith (Smith) Richards.

He worked as a teenager on Ebin Farrington’s farm and later enlisted in the Army Air Force during World War II serving in Guam and later stationed in El Paso, Texas.

Upon returning home from the war, he worked at the Wilton Woolen Mill and later G.H. Bass, retiring after 35 years of service. In his retirement, he drove cars for Tuttle’s Cars in New Sharon.

He loved hunting, fishing, camping and most of all driving for Tuttle’s where they made him “The Boss.”

He is survived by his three children, Carolyn Smith and her husband, Bayne, of Washington Plantation, Timothy Richards and his wife, Mary, of Industry and a daughter, Debra Nightingale and her husband, Rick, of East Wilton; five grandchildren, Darren Smith, Nicholas Richards, Jenette Nault, Melinda and Matt Nightingale; six great-grandchildren, Marcy and Hunter Smith, Travis, Dustin and Lilly Richards and Tyler Enman.

He was predeceased by his wife, Christine (Ranger); two brothers, Edwin and Erland Richards; and two sisters, Eleanor Mercier and Emily Belanger.

His family would like to thank the staff of Victorian Villa and his nephews, Reggie, Lew and Arnold Richards.