Dr. Larry L. Richards

December 24, 1936 - June 6, 2020

The funeral Mass for Dr. Larry L. Richards will be Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson with his family. All are invited to the burial in Franklin Twp. Cemetery, Cooper. The graveside committal will begin at approximately 11:50am Saturday. Military rites will be conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard, and Albaugh-McGovern American Legion Post #42. Dr. Larry Leonard “Doc” Richards passed in the loving arms of his family on June 6, 2020. “… The thing that makes you special is your kind and gentle heart. And when a Doctor cares as much as you sincerely do, the world becomes a better place, no doubt, because of you.” Tribute from his Nursing Staff Larry was welcomed on December 24, 1936 by his parents Pearl Prescott and Clara Leonard Richards and siblings Donald, Robert, Betty, Marion, Tom, William, Kenneth, Dorothy in Garden Grove, Iowa. As a 1955 Garden Grove High School graduate, Larry was an All-State musician, football, basketball, track and baseball athlete. Following the steps of his father and five brothers, Larry enlisted in the Navy upon graduation. At Simpson College, Larry served as President of his 1960 Centennial Class, S Club, Phi Mu Alpha-Sinfonia and co-captain of the Simpson Football team. Larry was named as a 1958 All-American Methodist University and College Elevens gridiron football player with qualifications that include “…performed brilliantly on the gridiron.” The All American Team with Larry at the center position was featured in the national Together Journal. He was a member of the Simpson Band, Kappa Theta Psi Fraternity and worked as an assistant football coach, dormitory proctor and dining hall head waiter. It was at Simpson College where Larry met his forever love, Mary Anderson whom he married on April 23, 1960 in Jefferson, Iowa. The love of family radiated forever in his life. Earning his music degree in 1960, the Simpson Sweethearts taught in Stuart, Iowa for one year. Larry knew early in his life his purpose was to serve as a physician. Dr. Richards graduated from the Kansas City University of Medicine/KCCOMS where he was involved with the Medical School Chorale. Larry completed his Family Practice residency at Mount Clemens General Hospital in Detroit, MI. Upon their return to Iowa, Dr. Larry and Mary built the Altoona Medical Center where Doc Richards practiced for seven years and served as the Southeast Polk School physician, leaving for a residency and more time with his family. He encouraged and assisted his children with their music and school lessons and coached his daughters in AAU, ASA and Ankeny sports. He continued to sing in choirs and play in bands. After completion of his board-certified psychiatric physician residency, Drs. Larry and Mary established the Richards Psychiatric Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Richards implemented electro-convulsive therapy under anesthesia to the Des Moines area and served as Medical Director at Charter Psychiatric Hospital. He was on the hospital medical staffs at Des Moines General, Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran and Mercy. Dr. Richards worked with law enforcement to take his patients for stabilization to the hospital rather than jail. Dr. Richards completed a Child and Adolescent Fellowship as Chief Fellow in the psychiatry department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His published research areas included electro-convulsive therapy, child adolescent school phobia, school refusal, avoidance disorders. Dr. Richards served as University of Iowa assistant clinical professor practicing as a board certified child and adolescent psychiatric physician at Tanager Place and Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids and medical staff at Saint Luke and Mercy hospitals. Dr. Richards enjoyed lecturing at professional conferences and teaching medical students and residents during his 53 years of practice. Always an advocate for family practice physicians, it was with joy his daughter became Dr. Jennifer. As members of St. Theresa Catholic Church (Des Moines) and St. Joseph Catholic Parish (Jefferson), Drs. Richards and Bishop Richard Pates began the annual Mass for Mental Health Awareness in the Des Moines Diocese. Annually Drs. Larry and Mary Richards met with the Governor of Iowa for the signing of the Proclamation for Children and Adolescent Mental and Brain Health Awareness Day. Dr. Richards is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). He holds life membership in the American Osteopathic Association, APA, AACAP, American Legion-Garden Grove and Albaugh McGovern Posts. Dr. Richards served on the boards of the Iowa Psychiatric Physicians Society (Public Affairs), Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, Ankeny Youth Sports, Gov. Branstad’s Policy Committee on Organ Transplants. His loving survivors include his wife of sixty years Mary, daughters Dr. Jennifer Elizabeth (Dan) and Melinda Kathleen (William) and children Mary, Edward, Kathleen, Lara Gross, sister Dorothy, brother Gary, nephews, nieces and forever friends. His joy of agriculture and gardening with formulas was taught to his children on how to grow Doc Richards tomatoes and potatoes which he gave to others, vegetables, peonies on the Richards Century Farm. He was a member of Des Moines Metro Opera, SAPIC, Iowa Barn Foundation. Dr. Richards legacy continues under the aegis of Mary to observe Children Mental Health Awareness Day and the Mass for Mental Health Awareness. Larry ‘performed brilliantly on the gridiron’ and in this world as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, physician, community leader. Have Hope!