Byron Richards, 91, of Hendersonville, NC, formally of Skaneateles, died Saturday Dec. 16, 2023, at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, NC.
Byron was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Akron, N.Y., to the late Robert Joseph and Helen Richards. He was a graduate of General Motors Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering. He spent 15 years at General Motors.
In 1968 Byron moved to Skaneateles where he worked 20 years in the newly created Fiber Optic Division at Welch Allyn and earned a patent for the flexible cord fiber optic bar code reader which is a part of our everyday lives today. He retired in 1988 and relocated to Hendersonville, NC.
Byron was an avid collector of conifers and created, with his wife Hazel, an impressive arboretum that was visited by tour buses several times a year. Byron was a marathon runner and hiker. With a goal of reaching the highest peak in each of the 50 states, he completed 29, many over 10,000 feet. Byron was a fine craftsman, having built his dream home with his wife Hazel. Everyone loved Byron.
Byron is survived by his wife Hazel of 67 years; two sons Tyde Richards and his wife Denise of Skaneateles, Dirk Richards and his wife Lori of Cincinnati, OH, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Corner Stone Baptist Church, formally referred to as First Baptist church, located at 21 State St., Skaneateles. The family will gather prior for a private burial at Lakeview Cemetery.
