Grandpa Amelope

I. Virgil Richins

12/26/1928 ~ 2/22/2014

 Our loving father and grandfather, I. Virgil Richins, 85, passed away on February 22, 2014.  He was born in Ogden, Utah to Wellington Irvin and Ruby Douglas Richins on December 26, 1928.  He was raised in Grouse Creek where he helped on the family ranch.  He moved to Tremonton and attended and graduated from Bear River High School.  After school he resided in Pleasant View, Kaysville, and Centerville, UT and Colorado Springs, CO.

Virgil married his sweetheart, Sharon Hales on August 12, 1948 in the Logan LDS Temple.  Sharon passed away on January 25, 1972.  On October 12, 1972 he married Donna Josephson in the Ogden LDS Temple.  Donna passed away on August 5, 2011.

He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many church callings.  He served as a Bishop, in multiple Bishoprics, as well as in a Stake Presidency. 

Virgil worked as a salesman for Utah Concrete Pipe/Amcor for over 40 years.  After retiring he worked for Logo Concepts for five years.  He loved his work and those he worked with.

He was an avid hunter and loved hunting with his family and friends.  He loved dancing, cowboy poetry, and old country western music.  He was truly a cowboy at heart and loved spending time in Grouse Creek.  Virgil loved to serve others.  When he wasn’t serving his family, he was always helping a neighbor, friend or anyone in need.  He had a soft heart and an endless capacity to love.

Virgil is survived by his children, Cheryl (Mont) Rose, Fielding; Mark (DeeDee) Richins, North Ogden; Brent (Heather) Richins, Kirkand, WA; Karla (Don) Tucker, Clemmons, NC; Sharon (Bruce) Hall, Plain City; Gary (Laura) Josephson, Lehi; Kevin Josephson, Logan; and Deanna (Clyde) Young, Boise, ID; 39 grandchildren and 76 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sharon Hales; wife, Donna Josephson; son, Alan Wade; two sisters, LaRene and Virginia; one brother, Doug; and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden.

A special thanks to Harrison Regent, Mountain Ridge Assisted Living and their fantastic staff, Encompass Hospice namely Tammy, Lisa, and Dr. Seth Lewis.  Also thanks to Dr. Mark Christian for his loving care. The family wishes to give a special thanks to Mark and DeeDee Richins for their daily constant, tender loving care of dad.

I have so many sweet memories of this wonderful man. He always took such good care of Grandma Donna. He called her Donna Jo. He wrote her the most beautiful cards for every occasion. Once I tired to sit between them at church and he very gently told me that no one sits between him and his sweetheart. I will never forget that.

When we were yonger, maybe 6 & 8, they took me & Emilee on a trip. We had asked Grandma to paint our nails. She was always so ladylike with fancy makeup and fake nails. I am not sure why but we were in a hurry. Grandpa offered to paint our nails. I don't remember if they turned out good or bad but I remember being impressed that he would do that for us. And while Granny was dressing her bum poked out from the curtain and when we laughed, he did too.

When I was in the 9th grade he and Grandma Jo took me to LasVegas. It was fun because it was just me. We went to a casino and had blackened chicken sandwiches. I thought I was so fancy. We used to stop in Tremonton and eat at the cafe. He would butter his saltine crackers and eat them with his salad. Sometimes he added honey too. Whenever we went through Idaho we would stop at the "flag" gas station. We always went to the bathroom and got a treat. I was really close with my granny and so I got to go on a lot of adventures with the two of them. They took me to Grouse Creek several times. Grandpa was a good story teller. 

I think my favorite story he ever told me was about a friend he was talking to. They were discussing the harvest and had moved to another topic. A bit later the fellow tapped his arm about 1/2 way up, showing the others how long the grain was. Now whenever anyone circles back to a conversation we were having, I think of Grandpa and tap my arm. Mike always laughs. 

I loved to hear stories about grandpa and his brothers growing up. There was plenty of time for stories on the way to Grouse Creek. Once he even got granny to sing the Idaho State song. He and I both giggled about that.

When we went to Grouse the first time he warned me there was no indoor plumbing. The thought of an outhouse creeped me out. Then on the way home he teased me because I spent more time out there than anyone else. Little girls have small bladders.

On one ride to Grouse, he stopped to help someone that had broke-down. Before he got out of the car he explained that it was not a good idea to just pull over and help people and that Grandma and I should never do that, but because he was with us it would be OK.

He was a good man and always helping the ladies in the community they lived in. He was quite handy and kept everything he owned in pristine condition. He alway got up early and dressed.

Grandpa always dressed nice and smelled good. I loved the smell of his cologne and Listerine. He always had a TicTac and a toothpick. 

We would visit Grandma and Grandpa every time we passed their house. They even stayed up late for our visits. Jake referred to Grandpa as Grandpa "Amelope" because he had an antelope hanging in his garage. Jake loved that antelope and Grandpa would show it to him every time we came. When Grandpa got a little older, he gave that antelope to Jake. It hangs in his room and every time I see it I smile.

I will miss him, but I am so greatful I have such sweet memories.