Darwin "Duke" Richards

Darwin “Duke” Wayne Richards

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Darwin “Duke” Wayne Richards, 87, passed away June 13, 2021 in Layton, Utah due to complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  Duke was born to Wayne LaMar Richards and Eleanor Adele Peacock on August 9, 1933 in Pocatello, Idaho.  When he was a baby, his Grandfather Peacock saw him for the first time and said, “Look at those dukes!” referring to his big hands.  That is how he received his nickname “Duke”.

Duke spent his childhood with his grandparents, Joseph and Erma Peacock, on their cattle ranch located between Driggs and Tetonia, Idaho.  He lived across the street with his Great Aunt Doris and Great Uncle George Peacock.  He worked hard on the ranch and loved to fish, hunt, and ride his horse, Nig.  Duke helped train horses on the ranch and at the age of 10, he began racing quarter horses.  Duke also had a dog named Pal and always had a real soft spot for animals.

In 1949, Duke moved to Clearfield, Utah.  He attended Davis High School for tenth and eleventh grade, and played on the baseball team.  During the summer, he went to work for the Forest Service in Idaho, where he was on the “Bug Crew” of the Grand Targhee National Forest.  He later moved to Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School in 1951.

After graduating, Duke joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Maddox DD731 during the Korean War until 1955.  He married Sandra Sparks on Sep 19, 1953 and they were blessed with three children.  They later divorced in 1967.

Duke married Doris Marie Chapman on February 22, 1968 and together they raised her three children in Kaysville, Utah.  Duke taught all his children how to snow ski and water-ski.  Their combined family enjoyed many cherished trips together boating, skiing, fishing, and hunting.

Duke earned an Associate’s Degree in business from Weber State College, where he also raced on their Ski Team.  He worked at Hill Air Force Base for 23 years in the water treatment plant in Civil Engineering and then as an Inventory Management Specialist in Munitions.  After retiring, he sold real estate for Realty World and enjoyed mowing the greens and fairways to perfection at Valley View Golf Course.

Duke was a long time bowler, a skilled fisherman, and an avid golfer.  He and Doris spent many memorable summers golfing and fishing with dear friends in Star Valley, Wyoming and winters traveling the southwestern United States and Mexico.

He is survived by his wife, Doris of West Point, UT; and children: Wanda (Bud Folkman) Day of Ogden, UT; Annette (Mark) Migliaccio of Syracuse, UT; Cindy Watkins of West Valley City, UT; Keith (Angela) Richards of Layton, UT; and Robert (Wendy) Green of Centerville, UT; ten grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brother Mark (Karen) Ellison of Phuket, Thailand.  He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Renee Amar; and brother, Craig Ellison.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield, Rd., Layton, Utah.  Friends may visit with family Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton

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