MELVIN MERRILL RICHARDS

Melvin M. Richards

Dr. Melvin Merrill Richards, of Malad, passed away Thursday, February 21, 1991 in the Idaho Falls Hospital.

He was born May 11, 1914 in Malad, the son of Dr. Thomas W. and Hilda Merrill Richards.

He was reared and educated in Malad, and graduated from Malad High School. He attended Utah State University in Logan and then attended the College of Dentistry at the University of Southern California where he got his D.D.S. degree in 1942. He married Evelyn Ashtown on August 30, 1931 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were later divorced.

After his education, he served for the next four years as a captain in the United States Army Dental Corps. For one year, he was assigned aboard the troop carrier SSC Pike. After serving in the army he attended post-graduate school in oral surgery at the University of Oregon in Portland, Oregon. He returned to Malad and practiced dentistry for three years. He then moved to Pocatello where he practiced general dentistry for 30 years.

He was a member of the American Dental Association, an active member of the LDS Church serving as Deacons Quorum President, a Stake Missionary, and served a full time mission to England. He also served as a Counselor in the High Priest Quorum Presidency in the North Pocatello Stake. His hobbies included grazing and showing American Saddie Bred horses, boating, fishing, photography, traveling and raising cattle.

He is survived by a son, Eugene Richards, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four daughters: Mrs. Calvin (Ann) McOmber, Rigby; Mrs. Mike (Beverly) Kennedy, of Malad; Mrs. Howard (Vicki) Willis, Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. David (Mary) Gilgen, Malad; 27 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters: Mrs. Mifflin (Grace) Williams, of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. James (Elma) Bischoff, Ogden, Utah; and Mrs. Reed (Kathryn) Powell, of Villa Park, California.

Funeral services were held Monday at noon in the Malad 2nd/5th Ward Chapel. Interment was in the Pleasant View Cemetery.