Glaen Richards

Vernon Glaen Richards, 95, passed away on January 29, 2023.

Glaen was born in Savannah on April 29, 1927. After living with his two brothers for many years at Bethesda, he joined the Navy at a young age and defended his country during World War II. While Glaen’s ship was circling in the Sea of Japan, Admiral Nimitz asked for volunteers to be the first landing party in Hiroshima after the bomb was dropped and warned that many of them would not be coming back. Glaen raised his hand and volunteered. He was 17 years old. Later in life he was honored by the National Honor Flight Network and taken to Washington, DC as one of the last surviving WWII veterans. Glaen ultimately retired from Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1988 after working there for many years. He was a member of Isle of Hope Methodist Church, and he devoted much of his time in service to Bethesda Academy where he served as president of the Bethesda Union Society. He also was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Glaen enjoyed his years of retirement engaged in his favorite hobbies which included boat rides, woodworking, bird watching, and crabbing, shrimping, and fishing from his home on the Herb River. Above all, he will be most remembered for the kindness of his spirit and the depth of his heart.

Glaen was preceded in death by his parents, Burmah MacFarlane Richards and Rufus Glaen Richards; wife and mother of his children, Leonella Oglesby Graham Richards; wife, Betty Evelyn English Richards; sister, Elizabeth Richards Harvey; brother, Rodolph Rufus Richards; and brother, Charles Morin Richards.

He is survived by his daughter, Leonella Richards Vaquer; son, Vernon Glaen Richards, Jr. (Mary); sister, Ida Louise Reese; and sister-in-law, Louise Ward Richards (Rodolph) . He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tiffany Marie Richards (David Gay); Laura Lee Richards Lloyd (JK); Mary-Elizabeth Elise Vaquer (Sean Farrell); Drayton LaRoche Vaquer (Kati); Mary Virginia Richards Witherspoon (James); MacFarlane Glaen Richards; and many great-grandchildren.

The family will be receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Isle of Hope Methodist Church 412 Parkersburg Rd, Savannah, GA 31406.

A burial will take place immediately after the service at Bonaventure Cemetery, 330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt, GA 31404.