Numan Keith "Turtle" Richmond

Numan Keith “Turtle” Richmond, 87, passed away on August 15, 2024 in Schoenbrunn Retirement Center at New Philadelphia, following a period of declining health. Everyone knew him as Keith, but to his brothers on the road, he was affectionately known as “Turtle”. Born on April 25, 1937 in Liverpool, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Lewis and Vera (Parson) Richmond.

 As a young man, he moved to Ohio with his family when his father got a job on an oil rig. Keith landed a job at a pot and pan factory, where he worked until after he and Georgiana married. The story is one that has been told many times over the years and every time, it brings a smile to everyone’s face. While Georgiana Collins was enjoying lunch with a friend, Georgiana caught Keith’s eye, with his best efforts to get her to agree to go on a date with him, he grabbed her wallet and refused to give it back to her until she agreed to go on a date with him. She refused at first, but after remembering that her wallet had her rent money in it, she reluctantly agreed. He had met the love of his life and instantly knew it! July 5, 1956, the two married. As a true show of character, the love he openly showed for Georgiana was heartwarming to anyone that witnessed it. By holding her hand, kissing her cheek, or laying on the floor or couch beside each other watching TV their love was undeniable. Together, they went on to enjoy 68 years of marriage. 

After a short stint of working on an oil rig and timber company, he discovered his love of hard work and trucking. It was his first semi that gave him the nickname “Turtle”, as it wasn’t fast or furious. Over the years, as an independent long distance truck driver, he bought several rigs, often spending weekends doing all his own mechanical work. For 58 years, the road revealed his hidden soft heart when he would bring home many stray dogs and people in need. He never shied away from giving a brother trucker a home during a layover away from home or a place to stay during a difficult time in their life. 

Over the years, he enjoyed deer hunting and fishing. At one point he purchased a pocket size camper and tent to try the family camping experience, which later was upgraded to a full-size camper with the full weekend family camping experiences to include a speed boat, fishing gear, skis, motorcycles, bicycles, and any beach toys available for the lake beaches and swimming. Exploring weekend with friends and many different beautiful campgrounds until the camper came to rest in West Virginia to house many weekends creating fun memories with his West Virginia cousins, boating and fishing on the Ohio river with his talented musical family playing their guitars and fiddles. Many memories were created for all, but especially the young grandchildren, with all the activities entailed with camping on the river.

As a selfless man, he was willing to help anybody at any time, he spent countless hours doing mechanical work on anyone’s truck. He built a portable pit for hog and beef roast, staying up all night and cooking for anyone asking, helped build stock cars for his buddies that enjoyed the thrill of speed on a racetrack, and took hunting trips in West Virgina with his cousins and son. His kids remember Saturday car rides where they inevitably drove by a garage of a buddy and he would need to stop and talk about their truck, trailer, loads and companies to drive for, for what seemed like hours (maybe even days) to those of us waiting in the car. As a grandfather, he was the one that taught his grandkids how to drive, allowing them to take his van “Sweetpea” around and around the house, and for the little ones, when grandpa asked what time it was, the answer was always, ICE CREAM TIME!!! 

Keith “Turtle” is survived by his wife, Georgiana; daughter, Cindy Richmond of Monroe Wisconsin; son, Jeff (Vickie) Richmond of New Philadelphia; grandchildren, Laura (Jim) Klitzke, Greg (Melanie) Petitte, Brigette Marty, Kim (Scott) Wilhite, Matthew (Katie) Behrn - Marty, Desiree (Robert) Alexander, Brian Richmond, Andrew Richmond, and Cody Richmond; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, June (Kenny) Anderson; brother, Morris Richmond; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis, and Vera Richmond; brother, Mike Richmond; and sister-in-law, Barb Richmond.

Cremation care has been entrusted to Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet guests on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM in Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia. A service celebrating Keith’s “Turtle’s” life will be lead in the funeral home at 2:00 pm by Pastor Scott Snyder.