Mary Virginia (Ralston) Richards (1913-2008)

RICHARDS, RALSTON, PEEBLES, BEGG, TIDRICK, LONG, GRINSTEAD

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 11/18/2008 at 14:15:43

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

Mary Richards, 95, of Nevada and formerly of Ames, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, at Rolling Green Village. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

Nov. 14, 1913-Nov. 17, 2008

Mary Virginia (Ralston) Richards, 95, of Nevada and formerly of Ames, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, at Rolling Green Village in Nevada. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Ames Municipal Cemetery following a luncheon served at the church.

Mary was born Nov. 14, 1913, in Orleans, Neb., to Thomas and Elizabeth (Peebles) Ralston. She attended Kearney State Teacher's College, Greeley Teacher's College, Nebraska Wesleyan, Drake University and Iowa State University, and taught school in Kearney, Neb., and Colo. During her time at Nebraska Wesleyan, she was a member of Willard Sorority Trio.

She married Myrlin James Richards Nov. 28, 1941, in Orleans. After moving to Ames in 1950, she helped establish and operate, along with her husband and children, a well-known Ames restaurant for many years.

She enjoyed working as a paraprofessional cataloguer at ISU Library for eight years.

Her community involvement included TTT, PEO, Collegiate United Methodist Church Women's Society, the Foreign Student Furniture Exchange, election boards and Solos Group.

She excelled at piano, organ, singing and bell choir, and fostered a love of music in her children and grandchildren. She dearly loved her grandchildren. Her hobbies were reading, traveling, crossword puzzles, making porcelain dolls, watercolor painting, China painting, writing letters, cooking, canning, growing African violets, bird feeding and bird watching. She poured her life into her family and lovingly welcomed the birth of each grandchild. Through her hardships in life, she always remained gracious and thankful until the end.

She is survived by her children, Lynda Richards, of Rolla, Mo., Mary Anne (Gary) Begg, of Boone, Tom (Nancy) Richards, of Nevada, Gloria Richards (Randy Long), of Iowa City, and Dorothy Richards (Rodney Tidrick), of West Branch; one sister-in-law, Willa Ralston, of Orleans, Neb.; grandchildren, Michelle Begg (Dave Owen, fiance), of Mesa, Ariz., Jamie, Charlotte and Lydia Richards, of Nevada, and Joshua (Andrea) Tidrick, of West Branch; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Myrlin, in 1972; infant son, John; grandson, David Begg, in 2008; seven brothers and sisters; and one son-in-law, John Grinstead.

The family would like to thank all the friends and staff who cared, comforted and loved Mary during her life and her time at Rolling Green Village.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Collegiate United Methodist Church endowment fund or the Nichols Scholarship Fund.

Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

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