Paul Vernon Richardson passed from this life to be with the Lord on Monday, January 26, 2015 in Tyler, Texas, from complications that arose ten days after open heart surgery. Paul and his wife, Janette, had moved to Hideaway, Texas in November to be near family, after 48 years in the Houston area.

Paul was born at home in Kennett, Missouri, on March 31, 1928, the son of the Rev. Irl R. Richardson and Pearl Snider Richardson. He graduated from Kennett High School (1945), Baylor University (1950), and Baylor Medical School in Houston (1954). He and Janette Gartin were married in 1952. After internship and residency, he served for three years as a U.S. Army surgeon, stationed in Germany.

Paul was a physician for 60+ years, and was passionate about God’s calling to practice medicine. After 30 years in Family Practice, he was board-certified as a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and practiced full-time in Houston until July 2014. His medical expertise, love of learning, and warmth of spirit informed his lifesaving care for his patients.

From the time he gave his life to Christ at the age of eight to the moment of his death, Paul “served the Lord with gladness” and with a courageous faith. Alongside his wife, Janette, he served as a deacon, choir member (he sang bass), and Bible teacher in many churches, including South Main Baptist Church in Houston, their church home for over 30 years. Paul went on a number of medical mission trips, some with his brother Gene, over the years.

His loving heart, deep generosity, expansive humor, soaring intellect, and insatiable thirst for knowledge were inspirational to so many. He recounted his disappointment as a small boy when told that it wasn’t possible to learn “everything there was to know about everything in the world.” Yet in his 86 years of life, he gave it a valiant try!

Paul was devoted to Christ and to his family; cared deeply for his friends, colleagues, and patients; and never ceased to marvel at the beauty and vastness of God’s creation. During his last weeks, as he faced open heart surgery, he said repeatedly, “I’ll do what I can about the things I can control. What I can’t do anything about, I’m not going to worry about. I’ll leave it in God’s hands.”

Paul is remembered with love by so many: Janette, his wife of 62 years; his daughter Jan and fiancé Derek, son Mark and wife Deborah, and son John and wife Angie; his grandchildren Paul, Jon and wife Vanessa, Rebecca, Sarah, Emily, and Kayla; his sister, Helen Cargill; his brother Gene Richardson and wife Mary; and many other beloved family members. He was predeceased by his sister, June, in 1995.

We will celebrate Paul’s life on Saturday, January 31, at 10:00 am at Hideaway Community Church, 1115 Lake Cross Road, Hideaway, Texas, followed by a private interment at in Dallas. Services are provided by the Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale, Texas.