Gerald Laverne Richardson was born in Fort Morgan, Colorado on September 21, 1928 to Albert and Lucille Richardson of Wiggins, Colorado and passed away on June 29, 2016 in Richland, Washington. Gerald is preceded in death by his parents and his five (5) brothers and four of the five wives: Merlyn (Betty), Donald, (Dorothy) James, (Rowena), Paul, (Naomi) and Clyde. Gerald is survived by Clyde’s wife Emilo, as well as his nieces and nephews, Judith Ann, Joel Albert, Barry Dean, Donna Rae, Sherry Lee, Shane Albert, Terry Lynn, Autumn Gayle, Domani Elizabeth, Sandra Elaine Sterling, Crystal Anne Sterling, Constance Maraina, Christy Lucille, Mary Catherine Cooper and William Robert Cooper, and their children and grandchildren.

Gerald graduated from Wiggins grade school and High School as Valedictorian, and competed in numerous scholarship contests which earned him a scholarship at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he entered the College of Engineering. Gerald graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering with Special Honors and accepted a position with the General Electric Company at the Hanford Works of the Atomic Energy Commission at Richland, Washington in June 1950. Gerald was involved in a number of projects including the Redox and Purex Processes.  Gerald later worked for Battelle Memorial Institute and then Westinghouse Electric Company from which he retired in 1984.  

Gerald had an abiding interest in his chosen work as a chemist that continued long after his retirement. He was justifiably proud of his decades of dedicated active participation in nuclear chemical research and product development at Westinghouse Hanford and National Laboratories. Colleagues recall Gerald as having a mind like a filing cabinet par excel lance, with a wealth of technical knowledge always at his fingertips – a resource much valued.

A singularly thoughtful and solitary man, upon retirement he devoted his attention to his long-standing fascination with the spectacular beauty of the iris plant. His work in growing and breeding of multiple iris stocks resulted in several new varieties being registered. For over four decades, he provided his community with an extravaganza of breathtaking floral largesse each spring. The residential lot fully planted with the dramatic flowering stems which he attended with meticulous care throughout the year became a traditional Mother’s Day viewing destination for many Tri City families. Thanks to the conscientious assistance of fellow gardening aficionado, Sheryl Lytton, “The Iris Man’s” spring flower show was able to grace his community even through the final months of his life.

On the 29th of June, 2016, surrounded by the diverse collection of books, scientific journals, and classical records that he loved, Gerald passed peacefully from life…at home, just where he wished to be.

A Celebration of Gerald’s life will be held at Events at Sunset on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 10 am with reception to follow. (Events at Sunset is located at 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, Washington.)