The Reverend William Eugene “Bill” Richards, 87, born in Brownsville PA, March 17, 1929, passed away October 16, 2016 at 3:17 pm in his sleep after a brief illness at his home in Falling Waters, WV. He was preceded in death by his mother Clarice Madge Toms (Richards) Scarff of Gassaway, WV, his step-father and best friend Herbert (Red) Henry Scarff of Gassaway, WV, his father Robert Morris Richards of Brownsville, PA and step-sister Helen Scarff Wine. He is survived by his wife of 64 years (April 10, 1952), Mary JoAnn McNemar of Weston WV, children: Rev. Judy Richards (Burgoyne) Vetter of Romney, WV; Jann and Leonard Richards (Hardy) Weltman of Fairfax, VA; Jill and Kathleen Richards O’Regan of La Quinta, CA; Jinni Lue Richards of Los Angeles, CA. Grandchildren: Stacey Burgoyne Funkhouser (& Andy), Holly Burgoyne Branch (& Butch), William Richards Hardy, John Wesley Richards Hardy. Great-grandchildren: Justus Branch and Sophia Funkhouser. He spent his formative years living in Lewis and Braxton Counties, WV attended Gassaway Grade School where he was a WV Golden Horseshoe winner; graduating from Gassaway High School in 1947 as an athlete, student council member and participated in 4-H Club, a member of the WV National Guard and active in Methodist Youth Fellowship; attended Glenville State College, Glenville WV receiving a B.A. 1951 and received a Masters of Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary, Wash., D.C. then was ordained into the West Virginia Methodist Conference 1957. Bill was a math and science professor and athletic coach at Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA 1953 - 55; Student Ministerial Internship at Hynman, PA 1955 - 57; Ordained to the West Virginia Methodist Conference June 1957; WV Methodist Churches served: Knotts Memorial Methodist Church, Grantsville and district Youth Leader/Parish Coordinator 1957-60; Reedsville / Kanes Creek 1960 - 63; Lubeck / Washington Bottom / Fairview, Parkersburg 1963 - 66; South Fork Charge: Brandywine / Sugar Grove / Ft. Seybert / Mt. Zion / Bass 1966 - 71. VA United Methodist Conference Churches served: Stephenson / Burnt Factory / Welltown / Brucetown 1971 - 76; Middletown / Hites Chapel 1976 -79. YMCA Swimming Coordinator Hagerstown, MD; Special Education Teacher Berkeley County WV. Community involvement and achievements: WV 4-H All Stars; American Red Cross Small Craft and Water Safety Instructor; WV Methodist Conference Youth Leader Central and Fairmont Districts; Lions Club; Ruritan Club; Volunteer Firefighter; Masonic Lodges Pendleton County WV and Winchester, VA; Shriner Richmond VA; Habitat for Humanity; Berkeley County WV Senior Center Volunteer; WV Silver Haired Legislator; Glenville College Alumni Council (volunteer); WV Dept of Highway volunteer; WV Town and County Methodist Minister of the Year; Conservation Minister of the South Potomac; Chair of the United Methodist Ministerial Association Frederick County VA. The Celebration of the Resurrection will be Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 12:10 pm in Romney First United Methodist Church, 49 North High Street, Romney, WV 26757. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20016, scholarship fund of Rev. William E. Richards. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home.