William Michael Richards, Jr.

William Michael "Mike" Richards, Jr. 60 of Richmond, Texas, was received by our Lord on Thursday, May 30, 2024.  He was born on July 6, 1963, in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Dulles High School in 1982. He attended Abilene Christian University and Houston Baptist University on tennis scholarship and graduated with an associates in ministry from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1987. He was the spiritual son of Betty Jo Frank and an ordained minister and associate pastor at Church of Living Waters for 7 years. In his 15 years of ministry development at International Bible Society, now Biblica, he raised millions of dollars to fund Bible translation and distribution projects around the world. His passion to strengthen those recovering from addiction led him to create and bring to print IBS's Addiction Recovery New Testament, create his own Addiction2Recovery ministry, and to faithfully connect to addiction recovery communities in Harris and Fort Bend counties. Untold lives are forever changed by his life work.

Mike was the husband who came home with roses…just because, the son who loved an evening on the porch with his parents, the dad who showed up at 44 AAA calls in the last 3 years to be there with his kids or his wife while they waited to have their cars towed. He was characterized by his empathy and compassion and by his devoted love to his family and friends. He loved a good laugh, had the best Dad jokes, and couldn't resist a good prank. He knew every single song from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and has forever infected his kids with a love for music. From years of baseball in the front yard, to passionately cheering from the sidelines for each of his 5 kids, to riding water slides with his granddaughter, Mike loved shared experiences with his family and meaningful connections with his friends. His loyalty and unwavering devotion were immediate and lifelong. He left behind a legacy of love.

Mike is survived by his wife of 29 years Linda Richards and five children Andrew (Victoria), Madison, Evan, Meredith, and Cullen, and granddaughters Chloe and Siena.   He is also survived by his parents, Mike and Cynthia Richards, sister Melone (Greg) Zak, aunt Rose Ann Summers, and uncles Charles Reynolds, and Harold Jackson, cousins Allison (Brandon) Hoybach, Angie (Ryan) Gibbons, Jennifer (Randy) Robbins, Hunter (Jamie) Reynolds, Sharon (David) Galvan, Judy Wegman, Amy Jackson, and Deborah Pearson.  He has 20 nieces and nephews and seven great nieces and nephews.   

           The Richards family will be receiving friends and family this Friday, June 7, from 9:30-10:00 am at Church of Living Waters, 4808 Airport Avenue, Rosenberg, Texas, 77471, where services will begin at 10:00 am followed by a private burial. 

Words of condolence may be left for the Richards family at www.epcompean.com.

         Funeral arrangements are under the direction of E.P. Compean Funeral Directors, 1223 Sixth St., Rosenberg, Tx. 77471, 281-238-4443.