Alden Bradford
Richardson, III
DOVER - Alden Bradford Richardson, III died on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
Alden was the last survivor of his childhood friends and his best golfing buddies, and among the last of The Greatest Generation. He was born at home on State Street in Dover on August 25, 1924, to William Parvis Richardson of Dover and Constance Louise Woodward Richardson, formerly of Tarrytown, N.Y.
Alden attended Dover public schools and in 1943 graduated from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa. At The Hill he became Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, won 3 boxing championships in 3 weight classes, and won the school's golf championship in his senior year. Alden served in the 101st Airborne Division, Parachute Infantry, U.S. Army from July 1943 until June 1945. He fought in World War II, in the Winter of 1944-45, primarily in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal "for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Rhineland campaign;" among other medals he was awarded the combat infantryman badge and parachutist wings. He was honorably discharged after suffering injuries.
Thereafter, he entered Yale University, played Varsity Soccer for 2 of his years, and graduated in 1950. Returning to Dover, Alden worked as Treasurer of the Richardson & Robbins Canning Co. 1950-60. He married the love of his life, Rebecca (Becky) Scull, daughter of Dr. Carl Brown Scull and Sarah Karstetter Scull, on September 6, 1952, and they had three children whom they treasured. After R & R was sold, he worked part-time while studying accountancy, and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1963. For most of his years as a CPA, Alden maintained a solo practice until he retired in 1988; he was appointed to a 3-year term as a member of the Delaware State Board of Accountancy by the Governor in 1969; and he maintained membership in the Delaware Society of C.P.A.'s until his death.
A life-long golf enthusiast, between 1940 and 1960, he won many amateur golf championships at Maple Dale Country Club, and in Rehoboth, Ocean City, and multiple Delmarva Peninsula Golf Assoc. (DMVPGA) tournaments. In 1955 Alden was Medalist and winner of the DMVPGA Eastern Shore Amateur Championship; he and partner M. Hayes Wilson, Jr. won the DMVPGA Best Ball Championship in 1958; and in 1990, he won Wild Quail's Club Men's Senior Club Championship. Alden shot 6 holes-in-one 1951-90. He served on the Board of Directors of Maple Dale 1951-53 and was President of the Delaware State Golf Assoc. (1956) and of the DMVPGA (1961). For many years Alden was a volunteer fireman at the Robbins Hose Company (Dover Fire Department) and became a Life Member in 1953. A lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church, he served two 3-year terms on the Vestry. Alden was a member of the Alden Kindred of America since 1968.
In addition to his parents; Alden was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Becky; brother, Edward Woodward Richardson; niece, Suzanne Lucey Richardson; uncle, Harry Alden Richardson II; cousin, Dorothy Richardson Baldwin; and aunt, Aubrey Woodward Olsen.
Alden is survived by daughter, Sarah Richardson Straley (Mark), Tampa, Fla.; sons, Alden Bradford Richardson, IV (Ellen), Dover, and Carl Scull Richardson, Dover; brother, William Fulton Richardson (Gretchen), Rehoboth Beach; grandchildren, David Alden Richardson (Aileen), Natick, Mass., Daniel Bradford Richardson (Sarah), Houston, Texas, Rebecca Rosemary Straley, Somerville, Mass., 1st Lt. Matthew Alden Richardson, USAF, Omaha, Neb., Catharine Elizabeth Straley, Washington, D.C., and William Ayres Richardson, Los Angeles, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Marilyn Elizabeth Richardson, Alden Bradford Richardson, V, and Edward (Ned) O'Brien Richardson; nieces, Emma Alden Richardson, Neva Fulton Richardson, and Constance Richardson Cecil; cousin, Priscilla Richardson Smith.
There will be a private interment at Christ Episcopal Church; a Memorial Service will be held at the Church at a later date to be determined.
Letters of condolence may be sent and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com