Thomas Weslie Richardson July 6, 1925 - December 11, 2021

Thomas Weslie Richardson passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family at the age of 96. He was born to George Weslie Richardson and Pauline Isabella Butler Richardson on July 6,1925. He was the third child of 12 children and the oldest boy.

Tom grew up on a farm and learned the value of hard work which he was an example of throughout his life. At the tender age of 17, he left home to work for Pan American Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. In later years, he became a Flight Engineer and fulfilled his dream to fly. He flew in the Boeing Stratocruiser, Douglas DC 7C, and Boeing 707. He finished his career on the Boeing 747. He also served as a Union Representative for the Flight Engineers.

In addition to flying, Tom was also engaged with different businesses. Those businesses included Auto Mechanic, Investments, Concrete, and Land Development.

On June 29^th, 1949, Tom married Gloria May Dixon in the Salt Lake Temple for all time and eternity. On their second wedding anniversary, they were blessed with their first child, Cynthia. Through the years their desire for a large family came to fruition with a total of 11 children.

As a family, we enjoyed vacations visiting the National Parks, fishing, flying, boating, water skiing, and visiting relatives. The camper made these trips even more fun!

We enjoyed Dad’s stories from all over the world. It became apparent that there was not a place in the world that Dad did not know someone. From his world travels, Dad would bring home watches, shoes, pearl necklaces, statues, paintings, cameras, clocks, dried plums, and one of our favorites–smoked cheese from New Zealand. We enjoyed seeing world currencies which we fondly called funny money.

The family lived in Woodside, CA; Honolulu, HI; East Palo Alto, CA; San Jose, CA; Saratoga, CA; and Benjamin, UT. With their last move to Benjamin, UT, Tom was still working for Pan American Airlines and was based out of San Francisco. During those years, he would commute two to three times a month from Salt Lake City to San Francisco for work.

Tom’s love of flying also spilled over into his personal life. He received his private pilot’s license and shared ownership of three different airplanes with a group of private pilots. He used his plane for family, work, commuting, and the sheer joy of flight.

Tom was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was an example of service in his personal life and in his church service. He held many callings including Stake High Councilor, Stake Scout Master, Provo Temple Baptistery worker, Executive Secretary, one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, High Priest Group Leader, and Director of the Spanish Fork Family History Center. During his 14-year tenure at the Family History Center, the center produced more Temple names than any other Family History Center in the Church.

In December 1987, Tom retired from Pan American Airlines. He worked for Pan American for 44 years. Thirty-two of those years were on flight–accumulating 24,000 flight hours. Three of those 44 years was on a joint assignment with the U.S. Navy and Pan American Airlines to serve his country.

Preceded in death by George Weslie Richardson and Pauline Isabella Butler Richardson, parents; Gloria May Dixon Richardson, eternal companion; Cynthia Richardson Petersen, daughter (Stephen-Aurora, CO); Donna Fulmer, Betty Galloway, Paul Richardson, Son Richardson, Stanley Richardson, Sterling Richardson, Lynn Richardson, Larry Richardson, and M. Brent Richardson, siblings; Eli Basinger, Oliver Basinger, and Skylee Basinger, great grandchildren.

Survived by his Sisters–Patricia Fulmer – Sandy, UT, UT and Pauline Ballif – Sandy, UT; Children–Douglas W. Richardson (Colleen) – Orem, UT; Marilyn Devine (Robert) – Rigby, ID; David T. Richardson (Joanne) – Aurora, CO; Don D. Richardson – Orem, UT; Glen A. Richardson — Benjamin, UT; Sandra Greathouse (Gordon) – Smithfield, UT; Patrick A. Richardson – Santaquin, UT; Rebecca Brink (Daniel) – Highland, UT; Diana Jensen (Brian) – Benjamin, UT; and Linda Critchfield (Roy) – Springville, UT; 47 Grandchildren and 48 Great Grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Walker Mortuary, located at 187 South Main, Spanish Fork, UT 84660. An additional viewing on Monday, December 20, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Benjamin Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 3238 W 7300 S, Benjamin, UT 84660. The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. Internment will follow at the Benjamin Cemetery, 9000 S 3200 W, Benjamin, UT 84660.

For those not able to attend the funeral in person, the funeral will be broadcast live at: https://youtube.com/channel/UCEquGnhL6dUL6hIjROfr0bQ

The family would like to express their love and appreciation to all the healthcare professionals who cared for Dad’s medical needs and comfort this last year!