George W. Richards, Sr., age 88, of Joppa, Maryland, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026. Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Bernard Winkleman Richards and Alberta (Fager) Richards.

George was the beloved husband of Shirley P. (Peary) Richards, with whom he shared 43 wonderful years of marriage. He was a devoted father to George “Bill” (Nadine) Richards, Jr., Hank Snyder, and Chuck (Ginger) Snyder. He was a proud grandfather to Bernie (Sara) Richards, Jim (Kristin) Richards, Drew Snyder, Lia Snyder, Alec Snyder, Charles Snyder, and Sherrie Snyder, and a loving great-grandfather to Cooper Richards and Griffin Richards.

In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his brothers, Bernie Richards, Claud “Sonny” Richards, and Raymond Richards.

George dedicated 40 years of his career to Bethlehem Steel before his retirement. He was a proud member of the Marco Hunting and Fishing Club in Middle River, Maryland. An avid outdoorsman, George loved fishing and spent countless hours on his boat. He enjoyed camping, traveling across the United States, and relaxing at the beach, especially at his home in Ocean City. George was a talented handyman who found joy in fixing things and even building houses. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

George had a passion for collecting Hull Pottery and could often be found searching for treasures at yard sales, never passing up a good find. He also enjoyed traveling and cruising with his wife, creating many cherished memories together. A lover of country music, his favorite artist was Hank Williams.

George’s greatest joy was the time he would spend with his closest friends and family. He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. He cherished the time he would spend celebrating milestones, birthdays and holidays with them.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “Heat it to Beat it” at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD. This was a cause close to George’s heart after his grandson’s successful treatment for abdominal cancer using the HIPEC procedure.