Velma Marie Richardson

BECKER, COLTON, CROW, FERRIN, GOULD, HILKER, O’DELL, RICHARDSON, SCHIPPER, WATSON

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 12/31/2016 at 12:49:23

Velma Marie (Crow) Richardson, age 92 years, formerly of Lamont, IA, died December 26, 2016 at Lexington Estates in Independence, Iowa.

Velma was born October 7, 1924 at the farm home of her parents, Fred Melvin Crow and Mary Loraine (Ferrin) Crow near Winthrop. She started school at Lamont and walked to the Richardson Country School – where the teacher was her Aunt Alice Crow. Later she attended schools at Lamont and Aurora – graduating from Aurora with the class of 1942.

On October 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to John Joseph Richardson at Hannibal, Missouri. John was in the service (WWII) at the time and home for just a couple days. Velma worked in a grocery store in Rock Island, Illinois, and also served as a Red Cross Nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital while John was overseas. Soon after John’s discharge on January 7, 1946, they became involved in farming in the Aurora area. They spent 53 years farming on the family farm near Aurora. In July, 2006 they moved to the Oakview Apartments in Independence and on December 17, 2014, Velma moved to the Long Term Care at BCHC.

Velma was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Aurora, helping organize Prayer groups, a Sunday School and VBS Teacher, a member of the Ladies Church organization and many other activities at Church. Velma was also a Brownie Girl Scout leader, a member of the Richardson-Jakway Historical Foundation, a Hospice Volunteer (was volunteer of the year), member of Aglow and Crusader’s Circle of King’s Daughters.

Velma was interested in children, her family, photography and letter writing. She was an avid reader who collected and shared many books with others.

Survivors include three daughters: Josephine Schipper of Parkersburg, IA; Jane (Charles) Watson of Hazleton, IA; and Jean (Fred) Hilker of Spokane, WA; ten grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, one son-in-law Leslie Becker of Lawtey, FL; one sister-in-law Donna Crow; and many nieces nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death was her husband John on Oct. 20, 2015; her parents, her daughter Judy Becker; three sisters: Helen Gould, Marjorie Viviani O’Dell and Ardalene Colton; one brother William Crow; and one son-in-law Stanley W. Schipper.

The family will be present for visitation from 9 AM until services on Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Church in Aurora.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 31, 2016 in the United Methodist Church at Aurora, IA with Pastor Allen Craft officiating. Music provided by Mary Kay Miller and Amy Copenhaver. Casketbearers will be: Scott Schipper, Steve Schipper, Mike Glandon, Mark Verhulst, Drew Schwint, and Terry Crow. Interment in Madison Cemetery south of Aurora.

The Fawcett Funeral Home and Cremation services is assisting the family with arrangements. Online at www.fawcettsfuneralhome.com under obituaries.