Obit for William Herbert Richey
Leesburg Commercial, 23 Dec 1938, p. 1 &
7
LAKE MOURNS AS THE BROKEN BODY OF COMMISSIONER RICHEY IS
LAID AWAY.
BELOVED HEAD OF LAKE BOARD IS AUTO VICTIM
Funeral Here
Wednesday Draws Great Crowd of His Friends.
Lake county's court house was closed, the county's flag
was at half mast and a throng of citizens from every part of the county
assembled in Leesburg at 3:00 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon to attend funeral
services at the Morrison Memorial Methodist church for William Herbert Richey,
Sr., chairman of the board of commissioners of Lake county whose tragic death
Monday afternoon spread a pall of sorrow over the community.
Assisting
the pastor, Rev. J. G. Stradley, who officiated, were Dr. D. E. Montgomery of
the First Baptist, Rev. S. J. Johnston of the Presbyterian and Rev. Randolph F.
Blackford of St. James Episcopal. Floral tributes taxed the church for space
and covered the ground for yards around when placed about the grave in Lone Oak
cemetery. At the cemetery the Masonic ritual was carried out and the members of
this order sincerely mourned for Mr. Richey was one of their most beloved
members. All arrangements were in the hands of Page funeral home. Active
pallbearers were Major John L. Fahs, T. G. Futch, Sr., J. D. Manly, S. L.
Kilgore, J. A. Gray, A. S. Herlong, Sr., Albert Bragdon and H. L. Goodwin.
Honorary pallbearers were J. W. Hunter, A. S. Herlong, Jr., B. A. Williams, B.
A. Cassady, Zera Giles, Karl Lehmann, D. H. Moore, Phillip Doss, George Dykes,
Earl Myers, J. C. Lee, R. P. Barton, Dr. H. G. Holland, Dr. Clyde Bowie, H. K.
Stokes, Manuel Sloan, H. H. Hethcox and Frank Owens.
Mr. Richey was born
in Lowndes county, Mississippi, on April 29, 1862, and lived in that state until
1881 when he came to Florida and located at Leesburg, being one of the oldest
residents of the community. At that time Leesburg was in Sumter county and when
Lake was formed he was one of the participants in planning this county. In 1918
he was elected county commissioner and has served continuously since, being
chairman more than half of that time, and the outstanding place this county has
occupied in Florida history of the past two decades has been due in large part
to the quiet but effective work he has accomplished for the county to which he
devoted such a great part of his life.
Farming and grove culture were
the lines followed by Mr. Richey throughout his life, although in later years he
has left the management of these affairs largely to his capable sons. He
unselfishly devoted nearly his entire time to the county's work even before
there was any adequate pay allowed commissioners and he served with honor at all
times.
In addition to serving the county as commissioner, Mr. Richey was
one of the stalwart civic workers for his home town. He was a builder,
associated with the late R. F. E. Cooke in the Leesburg State Bank, he helped
plan and erect the present First National building. He was the prime mover in
securing the funds with which to erect the Masonic Temple building and he gave
its construction his personal attention, saving and conserving the funds through
his familiarity with contractors and builders. As chairman of the local board
of school trustees, he superintended the erection of one of the present school
buildings in Leesburg. The county's highways are a monument to him and the
resources of the county are better off by millions of dollars for his having
lived and worked.
Occupying one of the most trying public positions
that exist Mr. Richey combined diplomacy with determination to a degree seldom
attained by any man. His quiet demeanor and deliberate manner countless times
turned abuse into profitable discussion and he could glean bits of worthwhile
information from the excited expostulations of citizens who felt themselves
aggrieved. He was a modest winner and a cheerful loser, but when he lost he no
more than got the bad news until he was planning an approach from a different
angle and when he won he wasted no time in gloating, but went on into some other
plan that meant something gained for his beloved county or district.
Besides his Masonic connection, Mr. Richey was a member of the Knights of
Pythias and Odd Fellows and found time to attend their meetings. He was one of
the first members of the original service club of Lake county, the Leesburg
Kiwanis, and was an honorary member when he died.
Mrs. Richey, who was
Miss Leeuna Stuart before their marriage here in Leesburg, preceded him in death
several years but they had a long and mutually devoted life together. Fourteen
children were born to them and 11 of them are still living. These are Misses
Belle and Josephine, Mrs. Pearl Haines, Robert, Edwin and W. H. Jr., all of
Leesburg; Mrs. Lucy McQuaig of Montverde, Mrs. Alice Whitcombe of Lake Jem, Mrs.
Myrtle Suddath of Okahumpka, Mrs. Ruth Roberts of Jacksonville, and Mrs. Mary
Carter of Montverde.
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William
Herbert Richey born April 29, 1862, in Lowndes county, MS; died 19 Dec 1938,
Leesburg
Leeuna Stuart born 9 Mar 1869, TN; died 17 Sep 1935,
Leesburg
married Luria Stewart, 23 Dec 1886, Methodist Episcopal
Church South, Leesburg, by L. Bishop. License date, Sumter County, 22 Dec 1886,
Liber 3, p. 293.
Children:
Lucie Leeuna b. 13 Jul 1888, d. 27 Feb 1979 - Clermont,
married 26 Mar 1911, Montverde, William Roscoe McQuaig
(1888-1954)
Alice, b. 1 Jan 1890, d. Jun 1978, married 14 Aug 1911,
Harry R. Whitcomb of Tangerine
William Herbert Jr., b. 6 Nov 1891, d. 12 Feb 1956; buried
Hillcrest Cemetery, Leesburg. Frances Irene Richey, widow, and James H., Thomas
E. and John A. Richey
Frances Irene, b. 12 Dec 1899 - Lakeland, d. 25 Aug
1992 - Leesburg.
James H. "Jim" b. 8 Jul 1921, d. 26 Jun 1993 - 2725 E.
Richey Rd; wife Margaret E. "Dolly" Stevens, d. 12 Aug 1993, age 73; one child,
Linda Sue b. 22 Aug 1940.
John A. b. 7 Aug 1924, d. 1 Jan 1987, wife Beth M., son
Steve, and one daughter.
Thomas E. "Bud" b. 13 Feb 1930, d. Jan 1966; wife Betty
J. by 1955.
John Claude 26 Jan 1894 - 15 Apr 1894
Myrtle R. b. 2 Jan 1895, d. 30 Apr 1967; married 19 Aug 1919
(Lake Co MB 4, p. 159, by W. M. Kennedy, notary public) David Hardy Sudderth, 25
May 1886-29 Nov 1943
Lester Stewart 10 Nov 1896 - 3 Dec
1914
Ruth, b. abt 1898-99, married Roberts; lived
Jacksonville
Edwin Harvey b. 24 Nov 1900, d. 12 Jan 1966; game warden for
state - lived Fruitland Park; m. 1st ca 1926, Mary Coyle b 1888, d 1946; 2d
Nancy Irene "Darling", b. 1902, d. 13 Aug 1984, age 82; no Richey
children.
Mary b. 2 Jan 1902, d. 18 Apr 1993 - Milton; bur Woodlawn
Mem Pk, Orlando; married Carter
Pearl b. 9 Mar 1904, d. 24 Sep 1998 - Tavares, married
Jewell H. "Toby" Haynes (22 Feb 99-14 Mar 1955); both buried Lone Oak; no
children.
Belle, b. 12 Jun 1906, d. 4 Nov 1988, married 2 September
1943 in Bushnell, Sumter Co. to George H. Williams, MSGT, U.S. Air Force, WWII,
Korea 1921 - 1977
Robert Wynne "Bob", b. 14 Aug 1907, d. 20 Apr 1999, wife
Martha K., b. 10 May 1909, born El Paso, TX, d. 6 Sep 1994; no children
mentioned in obit.
Robert Jr. b. 21 Apr 1936
Josephine b. 31 Jan 1910, d. 11 Feb 2002, married
Roberts/Robertson, Rapael Campos; lived Stuart, FL.
Florence Edith 13 May 1912 - 28 Aug
1912
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David H. Sudderth, voter book 1, Leesburg, 13 Nov 1917, age
31, junk
dealer.
Leesburg Commercial, Sunday, 5 Nov 1943, p. ? (forgot to
check)
David H. Sudderth, 57, resident of this vicinity for
over 25 years, died at his home early Sunday morning after an illness of several
months. He was a salesman and fruit broker until ill health forced him to
retire. He was a member of the Methodist Church and the Shrine. Survivors are
his widow, Myrtle, one son, David of the U. S. Army, one daughter Mary Julia
Sudderth, Clermont, one brother Max, Bradenton, and one sister, Mrs. F.
C.
Hudson, Savannah.
Funeral services were held at the chapel of the
Page Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 with the Rev. E. Watt Smith,
officiating. Interment was in Lone Oak Cemetery. Pallbearers were Roy Ayers,
Perry Butler, Walter Johnson, Ralph Pritchett, Glenn Gentry and Frank
Gillespie.