Gary James Richards, 79, of Franklin, IN and formerly of Greenwood, IN passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at Compass Park in Franklin, IN.

He was born October 19, 1946 in Indianapolis, IN to Harry Lee Richards and Virginia Louise (Wagner) Richards.  Gary married Carolyn Sue (Skaggs) Richards on December 7, 1967 at Olive Branch Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN, she survives.

Gary was a 1965 graduate of Emmerich Manual High School in Indianapolis, IN.

He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War having served four years.

Gary retired from Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis after thirty-four years of service in the human insulin known as Humulin as a service operator.  While at Eli Lilly and Company, he was an original member of the first responder team.

He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, IN, a member of Ernie Pyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1120 in Indianapolis and was part of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on September 14, 2025.  Gary also had been a role player for Homeland Security at Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck and was a volunteer for the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department in Brown County.

Survivors include his wife Carolyn Sue (Skaggs) Richards of Franklin, IN, his son Scott Richards (Kelly) of Greenwood, IN, his daughter Bethany Hannon (Patrick) of Greenwood, IN, three grandchildren Emma Richards, Benjamin Hannon and Laura Hannon, his brother Dennis Richards (Annetta) of Greenwood, IN, several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Stephen Lee "Steve" Richards on October 2, 2021.

A celebration of life service will be conducted on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 6:30PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN with military honors being conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard.  Services will be lived streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com/obituary/garyrichards.  A time of gathering and sharing will immediately follow the service at the mortuary.

A private family inurnment will take place at Crown Hill National Cemetery Annex in Indianapolis, IN.

The family requests memorial contributions may be made to the following, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or at www.michaeljfox.org, the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or at www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or Disabled American Veterans, 2740 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225 or at www.dav.org.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.  Information 317-738-0202.