Gilmanton Iron Works-----It is with great sadness that the family of Robert Earnest Richards of Gilmanton Iron Works announces his passing at home on April 28th.
Bob was the third of five children born to Paul W. Richards and Margery (Roberts) Richards. He was born in Exeter, NH on April 13th, 1951 and was 67 years old. Bob attended the University of New Hampshire where he studied botany and with his professors’ encouragement he began his dream of collecting and cataloging species of rare plants in the Amazon rainforest.
In 1980 he married Zannah Nichols of West Hartford, Connecticut at a ceremony in Rye New Hampshire. Shortly after the two embarked on a three-year journey in Jamaica, where he continued his studies of rare plants, focusing on orchids. In 2001, his life’s work on the Lilium Superbum was honored when he was awarded the Isabella Preston Award from the North American Lily Society.
Robert will always be remembered as an avid naturalist, a great learner of the classic texts, a challenger of conventional wisdom, and a loving husband and father. He always took time to admire all living things and appreciate what they had to offer. Survivors include his wife, Zannah Richards, of Gilmanton Iron Works; a son, Timothy Robert Richards, of New York, New York; a daughter, Lilium G. Richards, of New York, New York; two brothers David Richards and John Richards and two sisters, Margery Carpenter and Barbara Richards.
There will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 5th, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. at the Gilmanton Community Church, 1807 NH Rte. 140, Gilmanton Iron Works, NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the following link: https://www.youcaring.com/roberterichardsmemorialfund-1180481. The donations will be used to establish a scholarship for a UNH student studying botany.
Bob was a modest man, and his many contributions often went unnoticed and that was how he preferred to live.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com