William A. Richards

William A. Richards, age 100, of Tequesta, FL and Bourbonnais, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2023 at Ascension Heritage Village in Kankakee. He was born October 30, 1922 in Aurora, Illinois, the son of William W. & Ethel Reynolds Richards. Bill obtained his schooling there and then entered Northwestern University prior to being called to active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps after the National Emergency was declared. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II for five and one-half years, twenty-nine months of which service was in the South Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant Major in October of 1945. After the war he worked in a family owned bank in LaSalle County, Illinois for ten years during which time he attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin where he graduated in 1952. He joined the First Trust & Savings Bank, Kankakee in 1955 as Auditor and proceeded to ascend to the Presidency in 1977. During those years he served with the Chamber of Commerce as Treasurer and as Chairman of the Tax Committee of the Industrial Development Commission; as President and Director of the Kankakee County Community Chest as it was known in those days, which service included the heading up of an annual fund drive in 1964; as Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Kankakee County Bicentennial Commission; as Treasurer of the Kankakee County Community Services Council, a Community Chest function at that time; a member of the Advisory Panel for the Young Women’s Christian Association; a member of the official board and as Treasurer of First Methodist Church now known as Asbury United Methodist Church; Vice Chairman of Kankakee County 1968 Crusade of the American Cancer Society; the City of Kankakee Parking Commission; participated in the establishment of a Visiting Nurses Chapter; as Director and Treasurer of the Frederic C. Hamilton Foundation for Blind Children; President of the James J. Mullen Foundation; and with the American Legion for over 70 years. He was instrumental in establishing and served as Chairman of Electronic Funds Illinois, a forerunner to the sharing of ATM transactions between Illinois banks which eventually led to the use of bank cards electronically for many other purposes. He resigned from First Trust & Savings as President and Director in 1983 to join the Corporate Headquarters of Midwest Financial Group located in Peoria, Illinois as Vice President. Midwest Financial Group was established by First Trust & Savings as well as twelve other Illinois banks which originally comprised the holding company. While with the holding company he was given the responsibility for forming Midwest Financial Data Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFG, where he served as President until his retirement in 1986. The company was established to perform full computer services for the participating banks in the holding company as well as computer processing for more than 100 correspondent banks then being serviced by various member banks. Bill also served as chairman of Riverside Medical Center’s Oakside Corporation, the board of Westwood Oaks Senior Living Center and the Investment Review Committee for Oakside and Westwood Oaks. From 1979-1981 he was chairman of the Cultivation Subcommittee for Riverside Foundation. He also served on the Pro-Am Golf Committee at its inception in 1978 and served three years as Chairman. After Bill’s retirement he and Rita enjoyed life in Florida and all it had to offer. He’d always been an avid golfer and they played at Turtle Creek Club in Tequesta Florida, where he was elected treasurer and also in Kankakee at the Kankakee Country Club where he served as President in 1976. They traveled extensively and made many happy memories. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Rita Ennen Richards of Tequesta, FL and Bourbonnais; his two children, Patricia Richards (Bill Nichols) of Salt Lake City, UT and Barbara (Steve) Moore of Asheville, NC, and one niece, Mary Jane Wilgus. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; Bernice Whitney Richards, his wife and the mother of his two daughters who passed away on November 29, 1979; and one brother, Robert Richards. Per Bill’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. Private family services will be held and private entombment with military honors will be held at Mound Grove Mausoleum. Memorials may be made in Bill’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Mayo Clinic Research, or Riverside Medical Center of Kankakee. Bill was a wonderful example of the “Greatest Generation”, living a life of accomplishment, service, love and friendship. We love and honor his life and will miss him greatly. Arrangements by Schreffler Funeral Homes.

William A. Richards

October 30, 1922 - October 11, 2023

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William A. Richards

October 30, 1922 - October 11, 2023

365 Days of Grief Support

What We Do

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About Us

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