Obituary: Dale Edwin Richardson
Dale Edwin Richardson, a U.S. Army veteran with lifelong ties to El Dorado County, died Jan. 5, 2026, in Afton, Wyoming. He was 86. His family said Richardson “went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Richardson was born in Pacific House, California, to Halcy Oswell Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson. The youngest of three children, he grew up in California and later enlisted in the U.S. Army following high school. He served from 1961 to 1965 and was honorably discharged, according to family records.
While living in El Dorado County, Richardson met Mary Anne Boom in Placerville. The two were married there and later welcomed two children, Shanda and Bryce. The family eventually relocated to Star Valley, Wyoming, settling in the Narrows area, where Richardson built his career first as a construction company owner and later as a long-haul truck driver.
Family members recall Richardson as a tireless provider who often worked through holidays and sacrificed vacations to ensure stability at home. “He worked hard so his family would never go without,” the family said in a written statement, describing him as a man of strong faith, firm principles and quiet determination.
In retirement, Richardson embraced the outdoors that surrounded his Star Valley home. He was an avid hunter, particularly with a bow, and spent countless hours camping, fishing and exploring the Greys and South End areas. His love for the mountains and rivers shaped his daily life, including a home built close enough to the water that fishing was possible from the back porch.
Richardson was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne Richardson. He is survived by his daughter, Shanda Nelson, and her husband, Sam; his son, Pastor Bryce Richardson, and his wife, Erin; and his granddaughter, Naomi.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Afton Civic Center, 150 Washington St., in Afton, Wyoming.
