Phillip James Richmond (Phil) of Kansas City, MO passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday February 25, 2026 with his wife and son at his side following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Phil was born November 22,1940 in Leon, IA to James B.W. Richmond & Florence Irene (Jarvis) Richmond. Phil grew up in Ringgold County Iowa, in the town of Mt. Ayr. He graduated with honors from Mt. Ayr High School in 1959.
Phil graduated from Northwest Missouri State College (now University) in Maryville, MO with a history/social studies degree. Phil was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He would meet his wife of 62 years, Joyce Elizabeth Campbell, at Northwest. Phil received his Master’s Degree in Education from Northwest in 1966. He was proud to be a Bearcat and would support NWMSU in numerous ways for the rest of his life.
Phil would then soon become known as Mr. Richmond as a first year 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher for The St. Joseph School District at Neely Elementary in 1963. In early 1964 Mr. Richmond learned that he was transferred to Lafayette High School for the next coming school year. What would follow for the next 29 years at Lafayette High School would become truly special for Mr. Richmond.
On February 5th, 1964 in St. Joseph, MO, Phil Richmond married Joyce Elizabeth Campbell of Grant City, MO. In July of 1964, in St. Joseph, Mr. & Mrs. Richmond welcomed their son, James.
For the next 29 school years Mr. Richmond was a teacher, coach, and administrator at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, MO. In the early to mid 1970’s he would serve as the local leader of the Missouri State Teacher’s Association (MSTA). Phil taught U.S. History, Government, European History, World History, American West, and Sociology. Mr. Richmond encouraged his students to be proactive problem solvers in their communities, set personal goals in life and to question things that they did not understand going on around them. Teaching young people about the democratic process was Phil’s passion. Mr. Richmond coached football, basketball, and track in the early 1960’s serving as head track coach from 1969-1972. Mr. Richmond was the school’s first ever cross-country coach from 1971-1981 and then coached the team again from 1984-1988. Mr. Richmond designed and mapped out the cross-country course through Krug Park in St. Joseph which was used by Lafayette runners for 54 years. Mr. Richmond was promoted to part-time Assistant Principal in 1974, then full-time Assistant Principal in 1975 until 1978 when he would return to the classroom. Mr. Richmond retired in 1993, moved to Kansas City, MO with wife Joyce and worked for The United States National Parks Service at the Harry S. Truman Home in Independence, MO as a tour guide for eight years. Phil loved fishing in northern Minnesota with family and friends. He loved his pets, sports, playing cards, singing, and spending time with his wife & family which would usually lead to “spirited conversations” about history or current events.
Phil was the youngest of three siblings. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, brother & sister-in-law Donald & Kathryn Richmond along with sister Patricia & brother-in-law Lawrence Jefferson Sr. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Joyce Richmond of Kansas City, MO and son, James Richmond (Janet) of Country Club Village, MO. Also surviving are three grandchildren through marriage, Michael (Rachel) Nold, St. Joseph, MO, Kim (Adam) Roske, Smithville, MO, Tim (Haley) Nold, Savannah, MO, eight great grandchildren by marriage and his beloved dog companions Jaxson and Shelby. Phil is also survived by many of his former Lafayette students and colleagues as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to thank Harbor Hospice of Kansas City for their care and support during Phil’s final months of life. The family requests no flowers at this time. The family asks that memorial contributions be made in the name of Phil Richmond either directly to one of the following organizations or through the funeral home to one of the following organizations. The St. Joseph Foundation School Lunch Debt Relief Fund 1415 N. 26th St. Joseph, MO 64506, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church 1600 State Route 291 Liberty, MO 64060 or The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Bright Focus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD 20871.
Mr. Richmond has been cremated under the direction of Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, MO where service and celebration of life arrangements are currently pending.
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