Betty Richard

Elizabeth "Betty" Irene Richard (Young), 90, of Napoleon passed away on Nov. 4, 2020 at Northcrest Rehab & Nursing Center of Napoleon. She was born on July 25, 1930 in Pleasant Bend, OH, to Merl & Thelma (Mathill) Young. On January 28, 1949, Betty married Bill Richard in the Ayersville Methodist parsonage in Ayersville, OH. Betty was a lifelong member of the Pleasant Bend United Methodist Church. She loved to share childhood memories of living on the farm outside of Pleasant Bend with her younger brother Paul and going on milk deliveries with her dad using a horse drawn wagon. While she was a fulltime homemaker, her passion was raising their 5 boys on the farm next to her parents. She was involved in their church programs, cub scouts & 4H, was constantly cooking-baking-teaching-mending-cleaning-entertaining, and of course being referee to 5 active boys. She spent many summers at the family cottage on Lake Gilead near Orland, IN, helping her boys fish/swim/boat & enjoy their time away from the farm. Once the boys were all in school, she worked in her garden & flowers, she loved to paint landscape pictures & do ceramics, both of which many pcs are still in the family. She also loved to play the piano/organ & all the grandkids would sit on the bench beside her & play for everyone. They were fortunate to travel to Hawaii, Europe & the Holy Land, the Canadian Rockies & many places within the United States & Betty was happy to tell Bill where to go, according to their trusty AAA Triptik. When Bill retired, they spent 20+ winters in West Palm Beach, FL, with their many friends. Both she & Bill were activity directors for their condo complex & planned many parties, dances & card games. For many years she traveled with Bill & their friends to area parades as part of the Corvair unit of the Zenobia Shrine Temple. When the long drive to Florida got to be too much, they sold their farm & settled in Napoleon to be near family & friends. Betty & Bill loved to take the small grandkids around the area to pickup buckeyes and also take them camping in the summer in their Roadtrek van. Betty always had a big supply of her famous Chex Mix for all the grandkids & her recipe is a treasured family secret. Grandma Betty was loved by all & will truly be missed but never forgotten. She is survived by her sons Steven (Glenda) of Suwanee, GA; Dennis (Karen) & Timothy of Napoleon; and Jeffrey (June) of Defiance, 9 grandchildren,15 great-grandchildren, 1 niece & 1 nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Douglas, her husband Bill, and her brother Paul Young. Due to the current health concerns, a private grave-side service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home of Napoleon. Online condolences,memories and messages may be shared with the family at rodenbergergray.com.

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Betty Richard

July 25, 1930 - November 4, 2020