USAF Retired Lt. Colonel William Van “Bill” RICHARDSON

1955 - 2025  (70 years)

• Name	William Van “Bill” RICHARDSON  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Prefix	USAF Retired Lt. Colonel
  Birth	1955	Fairfield, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  HIST	USAF RETIRED LT. COL. WILLIAM VAN RICHARDSON Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2025 2:51 pm USAF Retired Lt. Col. William Van “Bill” Richardson, 70, husband of Linn McLaurin Duffie Richardson, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born in Fairfield, Illinois, he was a son of the late Fred Ray Richardson and Eleanor Mae Vanway Richardson. A first and foremost servant of the Lord, Lt. Col. Richardson served as a fighter pilot. He flew at Shaw Air Force Base, retired out of the Flying Tigers 75th Squadron and was a veteran of Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served both his country and family with dedication and passion. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder, and a Sunday school teacher and was a member of the Edmunds Men’s Bible Class and a teacher. He was a board member for Sumter Habitat for Humanity and Sumter Kiwanis Club. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Lee Richardson (Brittany) and Will Richardson (Rebekah); one daughter, Jennie Linn Richardson; one brother, Jerry Richardson (Lori); four grandchildren, Evan, Jack, Luke and Shepherd; in-laws, Jennie Linn and John Duffie; his sister-in-law, Louise Glover (Ron); and his brother-in-law, John Duffie (Kelly). He was predeceased by a sister, Debby Taylor. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Stewart Rawson officiating. Burial will follow in Wedgefield Presbyterian Church Cemetery with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150, or to Sumter Habitat for Humanity, 812 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.  [3]
  HIST	USAF RETIRED LT. COL. WILLIAM VAN RICHARDSON Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2025 2:51 pm USAF Retired Lt. Col. William Van “Bill” Richardson, 70, husband of Linn McLaurin Duffie Richardson, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born in Fairfield, Illinois, he was a son of the late Fred Ray Richardson and Eleanor Mae Vanway Richardson. A first and foremost servant of the Lord, Lt. Col. Richardson served as a fighter pilot. He flew at Shaw Air Force Base, retired out of the Flying Tigers 75th Squadron and was a veteran of Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served both his country and family with dedication and passion. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder, and a Sunday school teacher and was a member of the Edmunds Men’s Bible Class and a teacher. He was a board member for Sumter Habitat for Humanity and Sumter Kiwanis Club. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Lee Richardson (Brittany) and Will Richardson (Rebekah); one daughter, Jennie Linn Richardson; one brother, Jerry Richardson (Lori); four grandchildren, Evan, Jack, Luke and Shepherd; in-laws, Jennie Linn and John Duffie; his sister-in-law, Louise Glover (Ron); and his brother-in-law, John Duffie (Kelly). He was predeceased by a sister, Debby Taylor. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Stewart Rawson officiating. Burial will follow in Wedgefield Presbyterian Church Cemetery with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150, or to Sumter Habitat for Humanity, 812 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.
  MILI	He served as a fighter pilot. He flew at Shaw Air Force Base, retired out of the Flying Tigers 75th Squadron and was a veteran of Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  [3]
  MILI	He served as a fighter pilot. He flew at Shaw Air Force Base, retired out of the Flying Tigers 75th Squadron and was a veteran of Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  _UID	0E5CB8352CA2465F82785103A7E825E1ADEA
  _UID	0E5CB8352CA2465F82785103A7E825E1ADEA
  Death	10 Nov 2025	Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Burial	15 Nov 2025	Wedgefield Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Wedgefield, Sumter County, South Carolina   [3]
  	Elmore-Hill-McCeight Funeral Home & Crematory, Sumter, South Carolina Elmore-Hill-McCeight Funeral Home & Crematory, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I310191	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2025

  
  

  Father	Fred Ray RICHARDSON   d. Bef 10 Nov 2025
  Mother	Eleanor Mae VANWAY   d. Bef 10 Nov 2025
  _UID	FA7B340785DF4AAF92C47908F7D4A195E5FD
  _UID	FA7B340785DF4AAF92C47908F7D4A195E5FD
  Family ID	F211017	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Jennie Linn RICHARDSON   2. Lee RICHARDSON   3. Will RICHARDSON
  Family ID	F207790	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	15 Nov 2025

  
  

• Sources

  [S24359] Mary Louise D. Folts. [S25695] Engagement - Richardson-Freiji. [S32995] USAF Retired Lt. Col. William Van Richardson. [S33072] Jennie Linn McLaurin Duffie.