Darrell Floyd Richey

DARRELL FLOYD RICHEY, 69 died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock following a lengthy illness. He was born March 1, 1941 in rural Lawrence Co. near Powhatan, the son of Marvin and Irene Hedrick Richey. He had one brother, Dale Richey. Darrell was a devoted soldier, son, husband and friend and his loss will be mourned by many. He was always proud of his hometown, childhood friends and family. He was baptized into the Baptist faith at a young age. Darrell graduated from Black Rock, Ark., High School, attended Williams Baptist College and in 1964 graduated from Arkansas State University. He paid his way through college by working at food canneries in the north and by door to door sales for the Fuller Brush Company. He joined the United States Army in 1966 where he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division with duty as a front line combat medical corpsman. He served in the jungles of Vietnam. After returning to the U.S. he began a career in banking and finance, joining Worthen Bank in Little Rock in 1971. He was a branch manager at many locations for the bank and twice received the annual Distinguished Salesman award. He completed a three year course of study at Graduate School of Banking, University of Virginia. He later worked in security and investment sales with Worthen Bank, First National Bank, Prudential-Bache and Vinin-Sparks. In 1972 he married Jane Williams and they began a friendship and partnership that lasted over 37 years. Golf, travel, studying Spanish and family holidays were keen interests throughout his life. His favorite travels with Jane included a delayed honeymoon in Europe, on driving trips out west and up the cost highway from L.A. to San Francisco playing golf at Pebble Beach along the way, many birthday and anniversary trips to New York City and Las Vegas. More recently, his travels alone were for language immersion school in San Miguel, Mexico and a cultured study/photo safari in South Africa. In his adventures he loved to meet new people and share his pride in the state of Arkansas and the joys of growing up in a small town in the 1950's. He was a volunteer at the Clinton Presidential Center as well as several political campaigns and he really enjoyed time spent as an extra in three movies made in the Little Rock area. Darrell always strived to live out his core values of being fair, honest and finding whole and hearty laughter every day. He is survived by his wife, Jane; his nieces Kim Dunlap and Kelly Weekly and their families; his sisters-in-law, Freda Richey, Betty Westbrook and Julia Fletcher and brother-in-law, Vern Williams and their families, along with many other relatives and special friends. He is predeceased by his parents and a brother. A service honoring his life will be Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010 at 2 p.m. at House-Gregg Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Visitation will be 1-2 p.m. prior to service. Burial will follow in Old Lebanon Cemetery near Lynn. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross.