Elmer Cedell Richardson

Elmer Cedell Richardson, 87, passed away on Monday, August, 18, 2014. He was born in Vernon, Alabama on May 22, 1927 to Elmer L. and Artie Thomas Richardson. In 1945, at the age of 18, Elmer joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Germany at the end of WWII. He was a mechanic in the motor pool where he worked on and drove many cars belonging to Adolf Hitler. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and was assigned to many places including Okinawa, Japan and Izmir, Turkey and state side. In 1963, Elmer was transferred to McConnell AFB in Wichita. At McConnell, he was assigned to the Titan II Missiles Program. After his retirement from McConnell in 1968, he worked for Mardis Iron and Metal and then for Snodgrass Construction as their equipment mechanic for many years. His last job was at Miller Equipment. His real retirement from all work started in 2000. Elmer married Edna Pennington on December 6, 1947 in Columbus, Mississippi. She passed away in October 2009 in Wichita Kansas. He is also preceded in death by his son Kenneth Richardson who died in September 2009 in Edgewood, New Mexico. Survivors include his son, Bobby Richardson and his wife Jeannie of Wichita; daughter-in-law, Diane Richardson of Edgewood, New Mexico; brother, Bryan Butler and his wife Ruth of Vernon, Alabama; granddaughter, Tricia Moreno and her husband Freddy of Wichita; grandson, Shawn Richardson and wife Reagan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and great-grandson, Damian Moreno of Wichita who always brought the biggest smile to Elmer.

Viewing will be from 9-4pm Thursday, August 21, 2014 with the family greeting friends from 3-4pm at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca, Wichita. Graveside service: 10am Friday, August 22, 2014, Greenwood Cemetery, 6231 W. 47th Street South, Wichita.

with Pastor Gary Lakey from Gateway Community Church and Brother Delmar Becker officiating. Music selections will be "I'll Fly Away" sung by the Mabe Brothers and a special selection of "He Will Set Your Fields on Fire". Military Honors will be conducted by McConnell AFB Honor Guard.