SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Charles Elliott Richards, age 100, passed away on Oct. 19, 2023. He was born Feb. 19, 1923, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joel & Georgina Felt Richards and was the fourth of five children.
Elliott was raised in a happy, gospel-centered home. He attended East High School and played saxophone in a dance band. While a student at the University of Utah, he was a member of the ROTC and was called up to serve as an Army Lieutenant in World War II. He was stationed in the occupation forces in Japan. While there, he helped teach and baptize Tatsui Sato, the first Japanese convert after the war, who played a big part in establishing the LDS Church in Japan.
Elliott married his sweetheart, Margaret Farnsworth, in the Salt Lake Temple on Feb. 20, 1943. Two children were born to Elliott and Margaret before he finished his Army service. Once home, he took advantage of the GI Bill and graduated from the University of Utah Medical School in 1950. Elliott’s practice as a Pediatrician at Bryner Clinic was central to his life’s work. Over thirty-five years of devoted service, he cared for thousands of infants and children. His skills and his gentle demeanor blessed many families besides his own.
He and Margaret became the parents of twelve children. Despite his busy schedule, Elliott and Margaret worked together to raise a wonderful family. Daily routines, life’s lessons, camping trips, reunions, yard work, education, and Church service united children, young and old, again in a happy, gospel-centered home.
Elliott was an enthusiastic tennis player until age 92. In his final years, he found much joy in reflecting on the choice experiences he had and the special people he came to love while serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to serve as a bishop of the University of Utah 12th Ward for married students. He also served as a Temple Square guide for twenty years and was 2nd Counselor in the Ensign Stake Presidency. With Margaret as his companion, he also served as Philippines Cebu East & Cebu Mission President, Philippines Area Executive Secretary, Jordan River Temple President, Salt Lake City Inner-City Missionary, and Temple Missionary Coordinator. One of his last opportunities was to work with the Missionary Department reviewing missionary medical forms.
Elliott is preceded in death by his wife Margaret who passed away in 2004. Other loved ones who passed before him are his parents, his brothers Wayne, Brent and Joel, his sister Helen R. Fellows, and a granddaughter Shauna Young. He is survived by his twelve children: Marilee (Denny, deceased) Bonny, Kent F. (Marsha) Richards, Dianne (Duane) Powell, Janice (Larry) Colton, Joan (Kumen, deceased) Davis, Bob (Sue, deceased; Vicki) Richards, Doug (Linda) Richards, Boyd (Carolyn) Richards, Holly (Roger) Young, Steve (Shelley) Richards, Mike (Becky) Richards, and Jeff (Christy) Richards. His large family includes sixty-nine grandchildren, one hundred eighty-three great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held November 4, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Hilltop Ward, 589 East 18th Avenue, Salt Lake City. Friends may greet the family November 3, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, and November 4th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through Larkin Mortuary.
For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the watch services link above.
My condolences 🙏
To the Family of our late Mission President my deepest condolences. As my parting words to him be , well done thou good and faithful servant well done! I love you and thank you for being the greatest Mission President ever. Thank you!
I am honoured and blessed to have known President and Sister Richards as my mission parents.
A true blessing in my life.
My most sincere Condolences .
Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed Mission President . My most heartfelt condolence!
Till we meet again.
Your Missionary from Melbourne Australia.
In behalf of my family, I would like to extend our condolences. As one of his former missionaries, I am sad that our mission reunions will never be the same again. He will be greatly missed!
Mis sentidas condolencias para su familia. Fue un hombre ejemplar!
Bob has been a good friend for many years. I knew his father only tangentially, but knew him to be a good man. I'm sure he has wanted to return home now for many years, especially to his beloved wife. When I heard of his death, I felt there must be great rejoicing in heaven as this good man was welcomed home. I hope this time of remembrance can be a sweet time for your family.
My deep condolences for the family and love ones of President Richards. He was my father in the mission field. I am always grateful to be a part of his mortal mission. He was a strict mission father but he shows his love for us. I can feel how much he loves us and how much he loves the Lord. Thank you very much President… till we meet again…
I have no words that will adequately express my gratitude to my senior partner, Elliot Richards. It was the privilege of a lifetime to learn from him. Both the medical teaching he provided to me as well as the example of the caring, concerned doctor as he served so many thousands of children, will be forever appreciated. My life was made infinitely better because of him. God bless him. Both Ginny and I send our love and gratitude to his wonderful family.
As a young physician I dreamed about being as competent, calm, and caring as Elliott Richards. His office next to mine was so reassuring. I knew I could review any problems at any time with him. I was so happy to refer any of my ENT patients to him. I also felt his spiritual power at our interactions. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for all he shared with me and thank his family for sharing him. Jolene and I send our love to the wonderful Richards family.
art and jolene gardiner
No words are enough to convey my gratitude to my Mission President. He set a profound example of humility to all of us who served under his loving leadership. My deepest sympathies to his entire family. President Richards, you will forever hold a special place in my heart. Fare thee well, and God be with you… ‘Till we meet again.
My condolences to the bereaved Richards family,ur spiritual legacy incalcated in our minds that as our Mission parents teaches as the value of Christlike service in this first state of existence,we are so grateful for ur untiring call to served and may u have spitritually united with Sis.Richards in heaven...💝💝💝
Rest in peace, President Richards. Our deepest sympathy and Condolences to the family. So glad to have been part to celebrate his 100th birthday this year. I’m bringing the love and condolences of my fellow returned missionaries from both Cebu East and Cebu Missions of which we just have our reunion held at Urdaneta Temple in the Philippines 🇵🇭.
My condolences to the family. 🙏
President Richards I will always remember you and Sis. Richards. It was a privilege for me to serve with you in the Cebu East Mission. Certainly Sis. Richards is very happy you are now again together and forever. Rest in peace po.
Thank you for being my Mission President. Thank you for your being an example of faithfulness to the end and for the chance to live close to you after my mission. I have felt your sincere love to me and those you served. I’m excited that you’ll be reunited with Sister Richards at last.
I grew up with experiences of playful Uncle Elliott who was full of smiles and light and a joy to be around. Then I opened my mission call and saw he was my Mission President! I witnessed another side of him - spiritual power, floods of revelation, righteousness, wisdom, kindness, grace despite exhaustion, and truly giving his all in the service and worship of our God. My wife and I have a deep and abiding love for this exemplary man.
Condolences to the families
Our deepest condolence to the bereave family.. Till we meet again. We are saddened to hear that you are gone but we know you are happy together with your love ones and to be with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Anne
From Philippines
My deepest condolences 🙏. My great mission President in Cebu East mission. I'm so blessed to get to know him and sister Richards. 💓
Dear Richards Family,
My heartfelt condolences to your family at the passing of your dear father. I was going to come to the funeral service but was unable due to an unforeseen health problem. My memories are many of your father. I first knew "Dr. Richards" as a child as my father and he were pediatric partners at Bryner Clinic. Later, I had the great honor of serving as a missionary in the Cebu mission as a welfare sister missionary under his and your sweet mother's guidance. They were an anchor to me as well as a boon. Once, President Richards entrusted me with the care of my ill companion. He would say to me, "Nurse Evans, what do you think we aught to do?" That instilled such fear and confidence in me! His trust was a sweet gesture. My husband, Chris, and I had the opportunity to live in their home on Sunrise Ave as newlyweds for a time while your mother and Pres. Richards served as the area secretary. That was a blessing to us. He always had a welcoming smile and a way of making you feel loved. What a wonderful man! May you rejoice in your memories of him and Sister Richards and be blessed with the peace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please add my son to those who carry your father’s name: C(hristian) Elliott Mason. My husband Mike and I were blessed beyond measure to attend the University 12th Ward, where Mike served with Alan Brown as counselors to Elliott in the bishopric. What better example of marriage partners and parents could there be but Elliott and Margaret to young newlyweds? He also was our patient, knowledgeable, loving pediatrician who helped us through many a childhood illness and mishap. My final, brief visit with him was 13 years ago when he attended my husband’s funeral, watching over his flock to the very end. Thank you for making it possible to watch his funeral, a fitting tribute from his beloved family for this noble, humble, selfless giant of a man whom I will always remember and love. But, oh, how I rejoice when I picture his long awaited reunion with his Margaret.
My deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of my late and former mission President Elliott Richard from the bottom of my heart, I Love you President.
