Carl Lewis Richards

June 25, 1958 – June 10, 2026

Carl Lewis Richards, age 67, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior on June 10, 2026. Born on June 25, 1958, in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Carl was the beloved son of Lewis and Eva Richards and their only child.

Carl enjoyed a happy childhood filled with love, family, and cherished memories. As an only child, he shared a special bond with his grandparents on both sides of the family and often spoke fondly of the time he spent with them growing up.

Family was always at the center of Carl’s life. In the early 1980s, he married Pamela, and together they welcomed two sons, Scott and Chris. His boys were the pride and joy of his life, and he worked tirelessly to provide for them while sharing his love, guidance, and passion for mechanics, motorcycles, and cars.

Carl and his sons created countless memories working on vehicles together. He was a lifelong motorcycle and automobile enthusiast who could often be found in the garage repairing, restoring, or building something with his own hands. One of his proudest accomplishments was rebuilding his beloved 1983 Kawasaki GPz 1100 from boxes of parts, carefully restoring it piece by piece. He also treasured his 1958 Chevrolet, which he proudly drove to weekend car shows at Green Hill Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Many Father’s Day weekends were spent attending motorcycle races in New Hampshire with his sons, creating memories they would carry with them forever. Carl also had a deep appreciation for classic Americana and was a passionate collector and restorer of jukeboxes. Family members fondly remember Sunday mornings filled with music from his jukebox before heading off to church. He loved repairing jukeboxes just as much as he loved repairing cars and motorcycles, and he enjoyed sharing those skills with family and friends.

Carl’s love of movies led him to work at the Mendon Twin Drive-In Theater, where he helped assemble film reels and operate movie projections. He enjoyed sharing stories from those years and carried a lifelong love for movies. In later years, he especially enjoyed watching Disney and Pixar films, often filling the room with his unmistakable laughter during his favorite scenes.

In 2005, Carl relocated to California to further his engineering career. That same year, he graduated from ECAT dba WyoTech, Class 804, on November 23, 2005. His dedication, intelligence, and work ethic led him to a remarkable career in engineering.

Carl worked for General Atomics, where his expertise took him around the world, including assignments in Afghanistan, Baghdad, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East. He played a role in supporting the development of unmanned aircraft systems, work that he took great pride in. Later, he joined Lockheed Martin as an Engineering Research Technician in February 2016, a position he truly loved. Carl often said he wanted to work for as long as he possibly could because he found genuine purpose and fulfillment in what he did.

After moving to California, Carl married Sylvia in 2006. Following Sylvia’s passing, he prayed for companionship and someone with whom he could share life’s adventures.

God answered that prayer when Carl met Juanita in April 2023. The two quickly formed a deep bond and were married later that same year. Together they embraced every opportunity to make memories. Their first adventure was a trip to the rodeo and Mule Days in Bishop, California, and it was just the beginning of many road trips and shared experiences. Carl loved exploring new restaurants with Juanita, taking drives together, and discovering new places wherever their travels led them. They enjoyed spending time together shopping for unique treasures and finding hidden gems along the way.

Carl expressed his love for Juanita in countless ways, but one of the most cherished was his daily tradition of leaving her handwritten love notes, little messages, and drawings. Every morning, Juanita looked forward to finding the special note he had left behind for her. These simple acts of love reflected Carl’s tender heart and the deep affection he had for his wife.

Carl and Juanita made their church home at Bible Baptist Church in Victorville, California, becoming members on August 18, 2024. Carl loved his church family and held Pastor Joel in high regard. He faithfully served in the church choir and transportation ministry and found great joy in worship, fellowship, and serving others.

Those who knew Carl will remember his strong work ethic, mechanical talent, quiet determination, generosity, and unwavering devotion to his family and faith. He was the kind of person who saw a need and quietly stepped in to help. He was always willing to lend a hand, offer advice, or share his knowledge. He especially enjoyed helping his step-grandchildren repair and maintain their vehicles, teaching them practical skills while spending quality time together.

Whether rebuilding an engine, restoring a jukebox, helping a family member, singing in church, enjoying a Disney movie, or sharing a meal and a laugh with loved ones, Carl approached life with kindness, dedication, and a servant’s heart.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Eva Richards.

He is survived by his loving wife, Juanita Richards; his sons, Scott Richards and his wife Sara, and Chris Richards and his wife Krystal; his grandson, Kalub; and Wyatt, whom he loved dearly.

He is also survived by Juanita’s daughters, who he cultivated a wonderful relationship with; Rebecca and her husband James, and Delia and her husband Rick; along with their families, extended family members, church family, and many dear friends whose lives were touched by his kindness, wisdom, and generosity.

Carl’s life was a testament to faith, family, hard work, and love. He built much more than motorcycles, cars, and machines—he built relationships, memories, and a legacy of generosity that will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him. Though he will be deeply missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that he is now in the presence of the Lord he faithfully loved and served.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bible Baptist Church, 12626 First Ave, Victorville, CA 92395 on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10am.

Carl will be laid to rest with his parents at Wyoming Cemetery in Wyoming, Pennsylvania.