Albert A. (Bert) Richards (1960)

RICHARDS, DALTON, SAYLOR, CLANIN, BABCOCK

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 2/8/2006 at 20:02:07

A. A. RICHARDS of Winterset Dies

Winterset Madisonian
April 13, 1960

A. A. (Bert) Richards, a widely known Winterset funeral director for 33 years, died last Wednesday, April 6, 1960, at Mesa, Ariz., where he had been spending the winter months. His death occurred in a hospital there, where he had undergone major surgery 10 days prior. He was 67 years of age at his death.

Mr. Richards was a native of Illinois, where he was born at Avon on May 8, 1892, a son of Charles T. and Almeda Dalton Richards. He became a mortician as a young man, first working in Chicago, from where he moved to Corning, Ia., in 1923.

In 1927 he came to Winterset where he became associated with J. A. Ramsey in the mortician and furniture businesses. A few years later they opened the Ramsey-Richards funeral home on East Court avenue. The Ramsey-Richard partnership continued for many years and after the former's retirement, Mr. Richards continued to operate the home as sole owner, until a few years ago, when he became associated with Rival Collins.

During his years in Winterset, Mr. Richards took an active part in the affairs of the community. He served on the Winterset city council, and was a member of the Madison County Welfare board for 10 years. He was affiliated with the Winterset Masonic lodge and was active in the Lions club here.

Mr. Richards was married at Peoria, Ill., on Sept. 7, 1915, to Leatha Saylor, who survives him. He also leaves four brothers, Lee Richards of Parkers Prairie, Minn., Harry Richards of Farmington, Ill., Eddy Richards of Ferndale, Calif., and Rowland Richards of Morris, Minn.; and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Clanin of Canton, Ill., and Mrs. Pearl Babcock of Evanston, Ill.

Funeral services were held Monday from the Richards Funeral home, conducted by the Rev. John C. Porath, pastor of the Winterset Methodist Church. Burial was made in the Winterset Cemetery.