Clifford Dennis "Tripp" Richardson

Clifford Dennis Richardson
18 April 1935 – 10 August 2023

    
   Clifford Dennis “Tripp” Richardson 88 of Asheboro departed this life peacefully at his home surrounded by family on August 10, 2023.  Beloved father and patriarch, Cliff was born to the late Dennis Clifford and Blanche Simmons Richardson on April 18, 1935.  He graduated from Asheboro High School in 1953 where he was active in sports all 4 years.  He was chosen captain of both the football and basketball teams and was inducted into the Asheboro Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.  He married his high school sweetheart Alma Lee Robbins and for the next seven decades, raised a family and embarked on an incredible life journey together.

    From 1953-1979 Cliff was employed with Burlington Industries where he entered the work force at the bottom level.  He slowly worked his way up the ladder to supervisor, training manager, department head and eventually plant manager.  In 1979 Cliff and Alma moved to Carolina Beach and opened The Sand Dollar Custom Frame and Art Gallery.  The business slowly grew and in 1986 evolved to include a large selection of video rentals.  In 1993 they were able to sell the business and begin yet another adventure.  Together they designed and developed a unique line of Time and Tide clocks.  For the next ten years they traveled the east coast from Maine to Florida working craft festivals to sell their product.

    Cliff was a life-long member of First Baptist Churches in Asheboro, Forest City and Kure Beach NC and was an active volunteer of his time and talents.  He served as a Sunday School teacher, RA leader, counselor on youth mission trips and church deacon.  He was involved with NC Baptist Men through the years and in the early 1960’s was a part of clearing land and laying the groundwork for what would become Camp Caraway, a retreat and conference center for the NC State Baptist Association.  He and Alma spent a week on the Gulf Coast with NCBM in 2005 after hurricane Katrina offering food and support to storm victims.  They also volunteered several summers at The Victory Junction Camp in Randleman, a meaningful experience.  Cliff was a dedicated scout master of Troop 524 at FBC in Asheboro 1965-1974 and continued involvement with scouting in Forest City 1974-1979.  He received the Silver Beaver Award which is the highest honor bestowed upon volunteer leadership in BSA.

    At the heart of Cliff and Alma’s life together was their love of traveling.  They camped and RV’d their way across the USA several times and were proud to say they had visited all 50 states.  Their biggest adventure was a 1996 trek to Alaska in their new Winnebago, a life-long dream come true.  They drove the entire way as far north as possible, to the edge of the Arctic Circle, then took a different route back home over the course of 6 months.  Their favorite places to travel were the Everglades and Key West every winter and all the national parks out west, especially the Grand Canyon which they were blessed to visit 9 different times.  They never grew tired of each other’s company and were inseparable to the very end.

    In addition to his parents, Cliff is preceded in death by his sister Frances Vick, brother-in-law Bill Vick, nephew Rodney Vick and beloved wife of nearly 70 years Alma Robbins Richardson who passed only eleven months ago on September 10, 2022.  He is survived by his sister Virginia Scheinhaus (Ron), nephew Douglas Vick, nieces Regina Vick, Marcia Vick Gomez (Leo) and four children Debbie Purinton (Brad), Vickie Carpenter (Kent), Craig Richardson (Scott) and Kirk Richardson (Patricia).  Also seven grandchildren Bonnie Forsyth, Trey Forsyth, Jared Purinton (Sandi), Matt Purinton, Sadie Carpenter (Austin), Jacob Richardson (Maddie), Nathan Richardson, and three great grandchildren Parker Purinton, Cullen Purinton and Jasper Wayne Morgan-Richardson.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either of Cliff’s favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Habitat for Humanity.  The family would especially appreciate any donations in honor of Cliff to Gentiva Hospice of Asheboro.  They were angels, incredibly helpful to all of us during his last days.  Asheboro and the surrounding communities are truly blessed to have such a wonderful resource available to them in their midst.

    A special funeral service will be held at sea with immediate family.  It was Cliff and Alma’s desire to be cremated and interred together into the currents of the Atlantic Ocean so that their ashes and spirits would continue to travel in unison around the globe for eternity.  May their beautiful souls both rest in peace and remain entwined together forever.