- Date Of Birth: July 22, 1930
- Date Of Death: June 18, 2007
- State: Indiana
Evelyn J. “Joan” Richards, 76, of 29105 Lantz Blvd., died at 3:55 p.m. Monday (June 18, 2007) at Beverly Living Center after an extended illness.
She was born July 22, 1930, to Devon Moore and Eva Kiser (Lock) in Koscuisko County. She married Roy Richards on March 10, 1951, in Elkhart.
He survives with two sons, Raymond “Rocky” (Linda) Richards of Lafayette, and Richard (Debra “Jeannie”) Richards of Columbia, S.C.; one daughter, Jacke (Tom) Atkins of Elkhart; one sister, Ruth Rose of North Webster; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Pearl Hogue and Harriett Franklin; one brother, Sherman “Butch” Lock; and one granddaughter.
Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, and for one hour prior to the 10 a.m. service Friday at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 3300 Benham Ave., Elkhart. The Rev. Mark Kloess will officiate. Burial will be at Olive Cemetery. A combined memorial service will be given by American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Auxiliary’s 8&40 group at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Richards attended North Webster High School and received an advanced accounting certificate in 1977. She served as the secretary-treasurer for Richard’s HACCR, a family-owned heating and air conditioning business in Elkhart for 35 years. She retired in the late 1990’s.
Mrs. Richards was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Elkhart Women of the Moose No. 73 and a lifetime member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 74. Actively involved with the ladies auxiliary, Mrs. Richards was asked to become a member of an honorary organization dedicated to the prevention and control of respiratory disorders in children, “La Botique Des Huit Chapeaux et Quarante Femmes.” She would later assist the 8&40 El-Co Salon No. 871, where she served as La Secretarie and Salon Chapeau. Mrs. Richards enjoyed volunteering, as well as cooking, baking, sewing, making clothes, and her cat, Boots.
