William Rancel Wallace Richards II, "Buster", 81, of Blanchester, Ohio, passed away on November 1, 2025.

Rancel was born June 10, 1944, in Blanchester, Ohio, son of William Rancel Wallace and Mary Etta (Hawthorne) Richards. He was a graduate of Blanchester High School, class of 1962. In 1977, he graduated from Xavier University. Rancel spent his entire career at GE Aviation and retired in 1999 to become a full-time papaw. Nothing was more important to Rancel than his family. His love for them was unwavering. The light of his life was his great-grandson, Kade Scott. We were blessed that he was able to have five months with him.

Rancel will be remembered for his big heart. He didn't know a stranger. The first thing he would ask anyone he met was "Where are you from?". Rancel was caring and generous and quietly helped many people in the community.

He will be missed dearly by "His girls".

He was the beloved father of Kimberly (Becky Hillyer) Richards and Amy (Cory) Lusk; loving papaw of Laurel (Kyle) Rhodes, Mikhail Lusk, and Alex Lusk; proud great-papaw of Kade Scott Rhodes; cherished brother of Forest "Butch" (Jean) Richards, Celia (Jim) Ward, and Ranetta (Joe) Bhuvasorakul; dear uncle of Cathy Mikes, Jim (Lindsey) Ward, Kiersten (Robert) Schaefer, Erin (Jason) Whitaker, Elena (Chris) VanLandinham, Lucas (Teena) Bhvasorakul, and Janina (Grady) Benton.

Along with his parents, Rancel was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48 years, Shirley Mae Richards.

A special thank you to his dear friends Joe Smithson and Patrick "Andy" Lance. They were wonderful friends and hunting buddies. Also, Darlene Herbert, she was a wonderful companion and friend for several years. Rancel was very active with the Blanchester Seniors, his class dinners and his Friday night dinner group. He was a friend to many.

Friends will be received from 5-8 PM on Friday, November 7, 2025, at Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 120 W Main St., Blanchester, Ohio.

Memorial donations in honor of Rancel may be directed to the Blanchester Senior Citizens, 707 N Broadway, Blanchester, Ohio 45107 and/or Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati (Pet Therapy Organization), C/O Louise Nathanson, 2134 Candlemaker Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45244.