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RITCHERDSON, DOROTHY MAE

RITCHARDSON, LEWIS

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/1/2019 at 08:51:54

Dorothy Mae Ritchardson Lewis daughter of John Loren Ritchardson and Annise Mae MacMurtrey Ritchardson was born February 14, 1926 in Clarke County Iowa. She went to see her savior on July 11, 2014 at 88 years of age.

Dorothy received her education in rural Clarke County and Osceola High School. She always had a desire to teach and furthered her education at Simpson College and Drake University. She then taught school in rural Clarke County for many years.

Dorothy was married to Reese Lewis on May 24, 1947. This union was blessed with two sons, Dale and Richard.

Dorothy loved living in the country and being a farmers’ wife. Later in life she was employed at Look Magazine and CDS (Communication Data Services) in Des Moines. She retired from CDS in 1991 as a Clerical Resolution Manager.

Following her retirement, she enjoyed making quilts for each child, grandchild and great grandchild. She loved gardening and canning and eating freshly picked raspberries, listening to her wind chimes and watching eagles fly. She also volunteered at Clarke Elementary reading program until her health wouldn’t allow it any longer. She loved being around her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and students. She never stopped teaching them life’s lessons.

Dorothy looked forward to the many family gatherings as family time was her favorite time. She was a committed member of the First Christian Church of Osceola, and enjoyed volunteering as a teacher for Bible School and prayer groups. She was a volunteer member of the Osceola Housing Board and various other community projects.

She looked forward to meeting with her friends for coffee at least once a week. With such a busy social schedule, her sons often asked her if they needed an appointment to see her. She loved to laugh and never let an opportunity to make someone else laugh pass her by.

Those relatives who preceded Dorothy in death were her parents, Loren and Annise Ritchardson; husband, Reese; sisters, Annie Jones and Lavone Ritchardson in infancy, brother, John Loren Ritchardson, Jr. in infancy, brother-in-law, Marshall Clifton; nephew, Mark Clifton, nieces, Marsha and Marcia Clifton, nephews, Ron and Jim Watson and many beloved members of her husband’s family.

Dorothy is survived by her sons; Dale (Brenda) Lewis of Osceola Iowa; Richard (Denise) Lewis of Runnells Iowa; grandchildren, Ric and Eric Lewis of Osceola Iowa; Laci (Ryan) Williams of Adel, Iowa; Nicole (Shayne) Short of Osceola, Iowa; Amanda (Larry) Downey of Des Moines, Iowa; Tiffany and Megan Lewis of Runnells, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Layne and Jadi Short, Alexa and Alivia Williams. She is also survived by her sister, Ruby Clifton of Albuquerque, New Mexico along with her children John, Susan, Denise and Jeff; Great nephew, James (Jodi) Watson; niece in law, Lynn Watson; sisters-in- law, Waunita Lewis of Osceola, Iowa and Margaret Hall of Des Moines, Iowa as well as many other special nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Memorial services were held at Kale Funeral Home, Osceola, Iowa, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2014. Interment was made at Van Wert Cemetery.

SOURCE: kalefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Dorothy-Lewis-8/#!/Obituary

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2014


 

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