Charles "Gib" Richards

Gib lived a good life and enjoyed 83 years of family, friends and “adventures.” He was a humble man that was inspirational and supportive to many people. He enjoyed talking with people, sharing stories and joking. Once diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Gib gracefully confronted the progressive disease, never complaining and always smiling and continuing to joke. He is now at peace and in a better place with our Savior, passing away June 5, 2017.

He was born in Waukegan, IL, raised in Detroit, MI, graduated from Redford High School, and attended U of M, earning a BS in Engineering Mechanics and Engineering Math (1957) and MS and PhD in Engineering Mechanics (1964). He was a member of SAE fraternity, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, ASME. He was a goalie for hockey in high school, college, and intermural sports teams in Michigan, Canada, and New Mexico. Gib worked for Bendix, NASA, Livermore Labs and was a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at UNM from 1964 to 1998. His teaching focused on the student, helping them learn, achieve their goals, supporting and encouraging their efforts, and was the student advisor for 25 years. He even watched his students’ children so they could attend class. He received recognition awards for teaching throughout the years and the Student Service Award in 1998.

When Gib wasn’t teaching, he was clowning around. He started doing magic in 1965, a few tricks he remembered from boyhood. It developed into a “Clown Magic Act” that he did throughout the US and Canada, inclusive of the NM State Fair, during the summer for 30 years. “Fumbles” was his clown name, as he would fumble a magic trick then have the kids from the audience come on stage and they would “magically” make it work. He was known for doing “magic” in his fluid dynamics class to convey a concept (and entertain), too. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in Albuquerque for 30 years. He received an “Honor Award” from the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs in 2008 for leadership and service.

Gib was on the Children’s Council at St. John’s Methodist Church for 20 years. He taught Sunday School, VBS, ushered, tutored, volunteered in the office, and did magic shows for family nights.

Gib is survived by his beloved wife of 58 wonderful years, Kay; daughters, Marci Richards and Heidi Moir and husband, Lynn; grandchildren, Brittney Pacheco and Dilynn Moir; sister, Jean Burgess and husband, Bob; sister-in-law, Connie Thorpe and husband, Gary; and nieces and nephews.

Thank you to our friends, Special Live In Care, caregivers, Presbyterian PAC-2 and Kaseman Hospice for all of their compassionate help.

Friends may visit Friday, June 9, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Wyoming. Services will be held Saturday, June 10, 2017, 10:00 a.m., at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona St. NE. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gib’s honor may be made to the NM Parkinson’s Coalition, P.O. Box 35091, Albuquerque, NM 87176, or Mayo Clinic Parkinson’s Disease Research, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32224.

FRENCH – Wyoming

7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE

(505) 823-9400