Ronald L. Richards, 73, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on Friday March 26, 2021. He was born March 24, 1948 to the late Frieda M. Richards and Robert L. Richards of Indianapolis. Ron graduated from Arsenal Tech High School in 1966 and was a 1971 graduate of Indiana University.
His early passion for natural history and science paved the way for a long and distinguished career at the Indiana State Museum where he was the Senior Research Curator of Paleobiology. Ron also had a lifelong passion for the art of Okinawan martial arts.
ER
on is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy L. Richards; children, Vince (Vikki) Conners, Kevin Conners, Tom (Lisa) Conners; sisters Joy Jones, Janis Wilson; 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Julie Wigginton. Ron will be remembered for his incredible sense of humor, his kind heart and his dedication to the scientific community.
His first publication, "Vertebrate Remains from and Indiana Cave" was published in the Indiana Academy of Science journal while he was still attending Indiana University. He published dozens of papers throughout his lifetime.
In the 1960's, he was a student of William "Dick" Adams at the "Bone Lab" at Indiana University where he learned the fundamentals of zoology and faunal analysis.
Throughout his 40+ years at the Indiana State Museum and Historic sites, he transformed the museum's Natural History collections, refining old collections and seeking ways of improving those collections through fieldwork.
He went on his first large-scale mastadont excavation in 1980--The Kolarik Mastodon Dig--and was hooked. From that moment on, Ron meticulously developed a field program at the Indiana State Museum, focused on paleontology excavations, resulting in the excavation of 14 mammoths and mastodons. this program would result in the creation of one of the largest collections of Ice Age faunal material in the Midwest and the creation of a "Center of Excellence" in Ice Age history at the ISMHS.
Because of his vision and tenacity, we have a deeper understanding of Indiana over a hundred-thousand year time period. His humor and quirkiness were legendary, but so was his contribution to society.
A celebration of life will be held via Zoom in his honor at the Indiana State Museum on Friday April 9, 2021 at 8pm. Friends and family can find the Zoom link to join services at www.flannerbuchanan.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
His early passion for natural history and science paved the way for a long and distinguished career at the Indiana State Museum where he was the Senior Research Curator of Paleobiology. Ron also had a lifelong passion for the art of Okinawan martial arts.
ER
on is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy L. Richards; children, Vince (Vikki) Conners, Kevin Conners, Tom (Lisa) Conners; sisters Joy Jones, Janis Wilson; 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Julie Wigginton. Ron will be remembered for his incredible sense of humor, his kind heart and his dedication to the scientific community.
His first publication, "Vertebrate Remains from and Indiana Cave" was published in the Indiana Academy of Science journal while he was still attending Indiana University. He published dozens of papers throughout his lifetime.
In the 1960's, he was a student of William "Dick" Adams at the "Bone Lab" at Indiana University where he learned the fundamentals of zoology and faunal analysis.
Throughout his 40+ years at the Indiana State Museum and Historic sites, he transformed the museum's Natural History collections, refining old collections and seeking ways of improving those collections through fieldwork.
He went on his first large-scale mastadont excavation in 1980--The Kolarik Mastodon Dig--and was hooked. From that moment on, Ron meticulously developed a field program at the Indiana State Museum, focused on paleontology excavations, resulting in the excavation of 14 mammoths and mastodons. this program would result in the creation of one of the largest collections of Ice Age faunal material in the Midwest and the creation of a "Center of Excellence" in Ice Age history at the ISMHS.
Because of his vision and tenacity, we have a deeper understanding of Indiana over a hundred-thousand year time period. His humor and quirkiness were legendary, but so was his contribution to society.
A celebration of life will be held via Zoom in his honor at the Indiana State Museum on Friday April 9, 2021 at 8pm. Friends and family can find the Zoom link to join services at www.flannerbuchanan.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
Ronald L. Richards, 73, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on Friday March 26, 2021. He was born March 24, 1948 to the late Frieda M. Richards and Robert L. Richards of Indianapolis. Ron graduated from Arsenal Tech High School in 1966 and was a 1971 graduate of Indiana University.
His early passion for natural history and science paved the way for a long and distinguished career at the Indiana State Museum where he was the Senior Research Curator of Paleobiology. Ron also had a lifelong passion for the art of Okinawan martial arts.
ER
on is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy L. Richards; children, Vince (Vikki) Conners, Kevin Conners, Tom (Lisa) Conners; sisters Joy Jones, Janis Wilson; 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Julie Wigginton. Ron will be remembered for his incredible sense of humor, his kind heart and his dedication to the scientific community.
His first publication, "Vertebrate Remains from and Indiana Cave" was published in the Indiana Academy of Science journal while he was still attending Indiana University. He published dozens of papers throughout his lifetime.
In the 1960's, he was a student of William "Dick" Adams at the "Bone Lab" at Indiana University where he learned the fundamentals of zoology and faunal analysis.
Throughout his 40+ years at the Indiana State Museum and Historic sites, he transformed the museum's Natural History collections, refining old collections and seeking ways of improving those collections through fieldwork.
He went on his first large-scale mastadont excavation in 1980--The Kolarik Mastodon Dig--and was hooked. From that moment on, Ron meticulously developed a field program at the Indiana State Museum, focused on paleontology excavations, resulting in the excavation of 14 mammoths and mastodons. this program would result in the creation of one of the largest collections of Ice Age faunal material in the Midwest and the creation of a "Center of Excellence" in Ice Age history at the ISMHS.
Because of his vision and tenacity, we have a deeper understanding of Indiana over a hundred-thousand year time period. His humor and quirkiness were legendary, but so was his contribution to society.
A celebration of life will be held via Zoom in his honor at the Indiana State Museum on Friday April 9, 2021 at 8pm. Friends and family can find the Zoom link to join services at www.flannerbuchanan.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
His early passion for natural history and science paved the way for a long and distinguished career at the Indiana State Museum where he was the Senior Research Curator of Paleobiology. Ron also had a lifelong passion for the art of Okinawan martial arts.
ER
on is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy L. Richards; children, Vince (Vikki) Conners, Kevin Conners, Tom (Lisa) Conners; sisters Joy Jones, Janis Wilson; 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Julie Wigginton. Ron will be remembered for his incredible sense of humor, his kind heart and his dedication to the scientific community.
His first publication, "Vertebrate Remains from and Indiana Cave" was published in the Indiana Academy of Science journal while he was still attending Indiana University. He published dozens of papers throughout his lifetime.
In the 1960's, he was a student of William "Dick" Adams at the "Bone Lab" at Indiana University where he learned the fundamentals of zoology and faunal analysis.
Throughout his 40+ years at the Indiana State Museum and Historic sites, he transformed the museum's Natural History collections, refining old collections and seeking ways of improving those collections through fieldwork.
He went on his first large-scale mastadont excavation in 1980--The Kolarik Mastodon Dig--and was hooked. From that moment on, Ron meticulously developed a field program at the Indiana State Museum, focused on paleontology excavations, resulting in the excavation of 14 mammoths and mastodons. this program would result in the creation of one of the largest collections of Ice Age faunal material in the Midwest and the creation of a "Center of Excellence" in Ice Age history at the ISMHS.
Because of his vision and tenacity, we have a deeper understanding of Indiana over a hundred-thousand year time period. His humor and quirkiness were legendary, but so was his contribution to society.
A celebration of life will be held via Zoom in his honor at the Indiana State Museum on Friday April 9, 2021 at 8pm. Friends and family can find the Zoom link to join services at www.flannerbuchanan.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
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