James H. Richards

May 24, 1975 - Jan. 13, 2011

SOUTH BEND - James "Jim" H. Richards, 35, passed away January 13, 2011. Born May 24, 1975, he was the son of Herbert and Veronica Richards. His father, Herbert, preceded him in death in 2001.

Survivors include his mom, Veronica; wife, Angela; three children, James, Veronica and Hailey Richards; and two brothers, Steve (Erica) and Shane (Lynne) Richards, all of South Bend; uncle and aunt, Robert J. and Lillian Watts.  Jim is also survived by his nephews and nieces, Bridgette, Brittany, John, Kristof, Dominic and Alessandra (Steve and Erica), and Daron, Joshua and Shane Patrick (Shane and Lynne), as well as many friends and cousins.

 "Here Comes The Sun" 

Born at Memorial Hospital on May 24, 1975, under a difficult delivery where his mother almost died, Jim, always known as the 'Miracle' baby, was the youngest of three sons born to Herbert Richards and Veronica Watts Richards. He played baseball for Dairy Queen at Southeast Little League and attended St. Jude Catholic Elementary School. 

"In times of sorrow, music can reunite us with those who have passed. A rhythm, a beat, a lyric, a song, a symphony... all so singularly capable of taking us right back to a place in time, a moment thought lost. Let no day end without song, lest you forget the joys found within that day..." 

Jim graduated from Riley High School in 1993 and had attended Ivy Tech State College.

His career was in welding and he had the artistic talent of working with metals, just like his father, but his true love, besides his children, was his music. Jim started playing the guitar as a child and had a brilliant talent for rhythm and chords. He loved the Beatles, especially George Harrison, and also any forms of acoustic music. He had a passion for playing the guitar and played in a band with his brothers, also guitarists and bassists. He had just begun to learn mandolin as well and felt a real connection with the sound and musical history of the mandolin. He loved his family and friends deeply and his easy going, non-judgmental, and never too serious personality will live on. Once Jim knew you for ten minutes, you were as much his family as his brothers or mother. He will be greatly missed by so many. His lifelong dream was simple and in his own words: 

"I just want to do good and help others" 

There will be a memorial service and Mass at the Cathedral of St James Episcopal Church, located at 117 North Lafayette Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46601-1507. Services begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011. The family asks that donations be made to the family for expenses in lieu of flowers please. Condolences may be sent to www.mcgannhay.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jan. 16, 2011.

07/25/2023 EJS

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