Robb Roy Richmond

Robb Roy Richmond passed away peacefully at his home in Dike, Texas on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 surrounded by his three children. He is survived by his sister, Eloise Lauritsen; daughter, Ena Marie Richmond; sons, Dennis Roy Richmond and wife, Susan, Alan Dale Richmond and wife, JanaLee; grandchildren, James Palmer, Kyle Palmer, Lauren Morris, Collin Palmer, Mandy Sue Miller, Marissa Bassham, Eddy Richmond, Chandler Richmond, Derek Richmond and Dylan Richmond; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Robb was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Richmond; parents, Wendell and Mabel Richmond; and brothers, Wesley Richmond and Harold Richmond.

Robb was born at home on October 2, 1935, in Miller, Nebraska to Wendell Verner and Mabel Ellen (Osborn) Richmond. He joined a loving family with an older sister and two older brothers. The dustbowl and depression had taken its toll on the Richmond family farming enterprise. In the Spring of 1937 Robb’s father took a trip to Oregon to look for a place to move his family. He purchased some land in Ontario, Oregon, then returned to Nebraska and moved his family by train.

Robb’s first home in Ontario was built with a chicken house in mind for later use. It was one big room with a cement floor and sloping roof. Inside the room smooth wire was hung close to the ceiling. His mother sewed flour sacks together to form sheets to hang on the wire dividing the space into rooms. They had a wood-burning cook stove which they burned corn cobs and sage brush.

Robb attended 1st – 8th grade at a small two-room school named Cairo 5 miles South of Ontario. He attended Junior High School and then Senior High School in Ontario, graduating in 1953. After High School, he enrolled at Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls, entering a two-year program that concentrated on education in all phases of agriculture, designed to get the student back on the farm quickly.

Robb volunteered for service in the Navy in 1955 returning home in 1957. He married Shirley Marie Dale on September 14, 1958. Robb and Shirley began their lives together in Fruitland, Idaho, starting a new dairy. He was named Idaho Dairyman of the Year in 1962. Later, they moved to Washington State, where they lived in Kent and eventually made their way into the Columbia Basin of Eastern Washington, where they spent most of the time farming and raising their family. They had a small farm near George for several years in the 70’s and later planted and developed a beautiful and productive apple orchard near Moses Lake. Robb was a skilled orchardist and enjoyed growing and harvesting his prized apples, pressing cider, and selling his produce at the farmers market. Robb also worked at Willow Drive Nursery from 1975 until he retired and moved to Wylie, Texas in 2000.

Funeral services for Robb will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1701 TX-301 Loop, Sulphur Springs, TX. Visitation will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, TX.