George Gerald Richardson Jr., M.D., 63, died May 23, 2008, at Washakie Medical Center in Worland, Wyo., after a four-month intense battle with cancer.
His memorial service will be Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Worland. His ashes will be returned to Oregon for burial.
George was born on Dec. 4, 1944, in Baker City, the son of George Gerald and Kathryne Jeanne (Motley) Richardson. He grew up in Baker and attended schools there, graduating from Baker High School in 1963. He met his future wife, Joanne, in Baker when they were just 4 years old.
When he was about 10 years old, he made the decision that he was going to be a medical doctor. He never lost sight of that goal, and eventually attended the University of Oregon in Eugene as a pre-med student.
On Nov. 7, 1964, he married Joanne Helen Welsh in Baker.They had a son, Trent Thomas, who was born during one of George’s mid-term exams, and in spite of his excellent excuse, his professor would not let him make up the exam.
Dr. Richardson graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland in 1972. He then interned at Philadelphia General Hospital in Pennsylvania.
He then began his active military career in 1974 as a general medical officer in the U.S. Army in Bavaria, Germany. Next, he did a four-year orthopaedic residency at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colo. In 1991, during the Gulf War, Dr. Richardson returned to Germany and was associated with the Heidelberg Army Medical Center as an orthopedic surgeon.
After retiring from active duty in 1998, Dr. Richardson practiced orthopaedic surgery at one of the satellite Mayo Clinics in Minnesota. From there he went to Portage, Wis., and finally settled in Worland, Wyo., in 2004.
Dr. Richardson’s very essence was orthopaedics; that is who he was. The most important thing in his life was fixing broken people.
George had three great passions: fly-fishing, his computers, and his Harley-Davidson motorcycles. During the winter months he would play with his computer, often making new ones from his dreams and catalogues; and he also would tie fishing flies and make bamboo fishing rods; in the summers he would put the fishing rods and flies to use. However, he was happiest when he was on his Harley heading out on a 4,000 to 5,000 mile road trip.
He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He also was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Harley Owners Group (HOG).
He was preceded in death by his son Trent Thomas in 1998, and also by his parents.
George is survived by his wife Joanne Richardson of Worland; his sister Nichatie Fern Worral of Baker City; and by two nephews, a grandnephew, a niece and by numerous cousins.
Memorials may be made to the Washakie Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary at 400 South 15th, Worland, WY 82401, or to the fund of the donor’s choice.
Veile Mortuary of Worland assisted with the arrangements.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 27, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor