Paul E. Richards

Obituary Services for Paul E. Richards, 97, will be celebrated at the Dora Church of Christ, Dora, NM, on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm. The day before, Sunday, August 4, there will be a visitation from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Denton-Wood Funeral Home, 1001 N. Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM. Paul was born in Wilson, Texas, into the family of Lee L. Sr. and Maude Richards. He entered his rest in Carlsbad, NM, on August 2, 2019, at the age of 97. The Richards family moved to Dora, NM, when Paul was 2 years old. He attended and was graduated from the Dora schools. Paul joined the Navy in January 1942. Most of his 47 months of Naval duty was served in the Atlantic Ocean area before his honorable discharge in November 1945. After his discharge, Paul returned to Dora where he worked with his father in farming. In the fall of 1947 Paul entered NMA&MA (now NM State University) in Las Cruces, where he earned his BS in Vocational Agricultural Education. After his graduation in January 1951, he spent a short time in Las Vegas, NM, teaching veterans, before moving to Tatum where he and wife, Berniece, lived from 1951 to 1982. Paul earned his MS degree in Biology from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, and did his post graduate work to earn his Administration Certification from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM. Paul taught Agriculture, General Science and Biology in the Tatum Schools before becoming Tatum High School Principal in 1967. He retired from the Tatum school system in May 1982. During their years in Las Cruces and Tatum, Paul and Berniece were blessed with the birth and lives of four children:Wynette, Gregory, Russell, and Ronald. Paul and Berniece celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2018. Paul was an active member of the Church of Christ where he taught teen and adult classes while living in Tatum and Hobbs. In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by his four children and their spouses: Wynette and husband Charlie, Greg and wife Lynetta, Russell and wife Katie, Ron and wife Kathy, 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 1 brother, Lee Richards, Jr. A short graveside service and burial will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Dora, NM, after the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to your favorite charity or to the New Mexico Christian Children's Home, 1356 N.M. 236, Portales, NM 88130. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul E. Richards, please visit our floral store.