Paul Howard Richardson, 68

 

  Paul Howard Richardson, age 68, of Owingsville, KY passed away on Wed, March 1, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Bath County on Dec 23, 1948 to the late Parley and Edith Howard Richardson.

 

 He was the Funeral Director, Manager and Co-Owner of Richardson Funeral Home and Co-Owner of Richardson's IGA. But in his lifetime he had many hobbies and interests and took away lifelong friendships from all of them.

 

 He was a graduate of Bath County High School Class of 1966 where he was on Bath County's first high school football team. He was also a graduate of Morehead State University and a Veteran of the Army Reserves during the Vietnam Era. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a lifelong equine enthusiast, enjoying multiple national successes across multiple breeds of horses.

 

 He began his equine career riding, showing, and training Tennessee Walking Ponies. He rode and trained Steeplechase horses and like his father he was an avid fox hunter, but it was his time in Thoroughbred racing that set the stage for the rest of his life. After years of training and racing Thoroughbreds he took a job as an outrider on the racetrack working mainly at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Latonia (which became Turfway Park) and River Downs in southern Ohio. It was while working at Latonia that he met his wife, Cathy. While still working on the racetrack the couple began riding and showing American Quarter Horses and became members of the American Quarter Horse Association.

 

 Upon moving back to Owingsville in the mid-1980's and opening the funeral home, Paul became involved in many civic activities in Bath County. For a few years after moving home he led the May Day parade on horseback carrying the American flag, aboard one of his retired racetrack ponies. Most notably among his civic activities: he was a member of the Lions Club and was a founding member of the Eastern Kentucky Quarter Horse Association. For a time he built and flew remote control airplanes and was a member of the Clark County Barnstormers. He was also a member of the Kentucky Cavalry Brigade Civil War Reenactment Group, participating in many Civil War reenactments across Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

 

 He had a leather shop and was well known for his custom built horse tack and leather belts. He was a die-hard University of Kentucky basketball fan and he enjoyed Crappie fishing with his brother, but in recent years he found his passion when he began showing Roadster Ponies under the guidance of Les Cunningham Stables.   In his last show in October of 2016, he won the Central Kentucky Roadster Pony Championship at the Fall Classic Horse Show with his pony, Back in a Flash. Going out with a bang, as they say.

 

 He had the most giving heart and gave the best part of himself to the families he served at the funeral home; continuing his time serving his community even as he was taking chemotherapy the first year of his illness. When you ran into him in public he left you feeling good about yourself. He was an inspiration to all who knew him including his doctor who hung his horse show pictures in her office as an example of how cancer never truly wins the battle.

 

 Among his greatest accomplishments in his life, was a loving family who adored him. He instilled his civic mindedness in the hearts of his children and grandchildren. He adored his four grandchildren, two grand dogs, and his Jack Russell puppies Max and Paddy. He never met a stranger and there were precious few people who met him that didn't love him. He is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy Griffith Richardson and their two loving children: his son, Paul Ryan Richardson of Owingsville and daughter, Ginny Richardson Clark (Louie) of Owingsville. He is survived by his brother, Brent Richardson (Debbie) of Owingsville. He is also survived by his four grandchildren Dylan Thomas Clark, Audrey Dane Clark, Lucian Parley Dale Clark and Summerlee Rein Clark. Several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews also survive.

 

 He leaves behind his beloved funeral home staff as well as too many special friends to mention. He was preceded in death his parents Parley and Edith Richardson. Funeral was held on Sun, March 5, 2017. Interment immediately followed the service at Owingsville Cemetery. Arrangements for Paul Howard Richardson were in the care of Richardson Funeral Home. In Lieu of flowers the family requests that you conduct random acts of kindness within his beloved community and beyond as this was the way he lived his life every day.