Eugene Richard

Opelousas Services for Eugene Richard, age 91, will be held on Friday, March 4, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. in the LafondArdoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, La., followed by interment in the Cedar Hill Cemetery. The Reverend Albert Nunez will conduct the services.

Eugene, a resident of Lake Charles, La., passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at The Guardian House in Lake Charles, La.

Mr. Richard, a physicist, was best known for his theories on the Earths magnetic field. He was born on June 16, 1919 in Washington, Louisiana to Emile Eugene Richard and Emily St. Cyr Richard. As soon as he could read, he adopted Albert Einstein as his hero. He graduated from Washington High School and joined the Navy in 1938. He served aboard the USS Kilty 137, a World War I destroyer, in the southwest Pacific in World War II. Mr. Richard participated in 13 initial invasions of islands in the Asian Pacific Theater. A Chief Petty Officer, Mr. Richard was in charge of the engineering section on the USS Kilty 137.

For his service, Mr. Richard was awarded the American Defense Service medal with a fleet clasp, American Theater Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and a World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Richard received a bachelors degree in Electron Physics from Louisiana State University in 1952. After graduation he worked for the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. and was granted two classified patents before returning to Louisiana in 1955.

Mr. Richard worked as a chemist for Cities Service Oil Company in Lake Charles before accepting a position as a physics instructor at McNeese State University. He worked at the university for 20 years.

While teaching at McNeese, Mr. Richard built a mechanical model of a reversing magnetic field, which simulated the action in the Earth caused by positive and negative charges moving eastward. The model was the inspiration and starting point for his work and theories on the Earths magnetic field as it relates to global warming and cooling patterns.

Mr. Richard has presented and published several papers on his theories on the Earths magnetism. He continued this work diligently until his death.

He is survived by his daughters, Linda Gail Maples and husband, Robert, of Lake Charles Carolyn Abell and husband, Fred, of Slidell his two brothers, J.B. Richard and wife, Grace, and James Sonny Richard, both of Baton Rouge and ten grandchildren, Stephen Maples, Jason Maples, Katherine Gertz, Elizabeth Domingue, Meredith Maples, Eugene Maples, Marie Abell, Alexis Abell, Julia Abell and Freddie Abell and 16 greatgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Marie Louise Voltz Richard.

Visiting hours will be observed in the LafondArdoin Funeral Home of Opelousas on Friday, March 4, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. with a rosary following the funeral service.

Friends and family are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LafondArdoin Funeral Home of Opelousas 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements 3379422638.

Visitation

Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home
2845 S. Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, March 4, 2011
10:00 a.m. until service time

Service

Funeral Home Service

LafondArdoin Funeral Home Chapel
2845 S. Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, March 4, 2011
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Cedar Hill Cemetery
715 West Vine Street
Washington, LA  70589