Martha Eunice Richard

Family-Placed Death Notice

RICHARD, Martha Eunice A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, 2 PM, 7 January 2009 for Martha Eunice Richard, better known as "Eunie", died peacefully on 31 December 2008 at Carestone Assisted Living at Mt Zion, Jonesboro, GA. The service will be held at Ford-Stewart Funeral Home on 138 Jonesboro. The Reverend Irvin Pearre will officiate. A reception will be held at the Richard residence in Jonesboro following the service. Eunie was a resident of the Jonesboro area since 1977 after retiring from the Panama Canal Company as a news writer in 1972. She moved from Panama in 1977 and established her home in Jonesboro in 1978. She was born in Manhattan, Nevada on March 29, 1912 during the height of the Nevada old Silver mining rush. When the silver mines ran out, the family moved to Pennsylvania. At the age of 12, she moved on to Panama, as her father pursued his newspaper career. She essentially grew up in Panama, making many lifelong Panamanian friends leading her to attend functions at the socially prestigious Union Club. Eunie was a woman of extraordinary character and ambition. She was a woman ahead of her time. She loved life and enjoyed good company. After graduating from Balboa High School in the Canal Zone she went to the Syracuse School of Journalism, being one of two female students accepted and graduating from Syracuse in that year's group. She returned to Panama to join with her father in the growing English speaking newspaper business in Panama. In 1952 she accepted a position with the Panama Canal Company Press Office where she stayed till 1972, when she retired. She has the distinction of interviewing and writing stories about dignitaries, actors, and actresses touring the Panama Canal region. She wrote about many special events taking place throughout the 30's to the late 70's. It was reported that Eunie is in the Guinness Book of records as being the only one to be bitten by a tropical butterfly. After retiring she became restless and continued her extensive traveling seeking out, savoring life's sights and pleasures all over the world, such as boat rides down the Amazon, climbing the hills of New Zealand, but always coming home and to the pool in Jonesboro, GA, which she loved. Married to Owen Lloyd Richard MBE in May of 1942. They had two children. She is survived by her son, Peter and daughter Gwyneth, and 6 grandchildren. The family wishes that donations be made to the Panama Canal Museum at 7985 113th Street, Suite 100, Seminole, Florida 33772 in lieu of flowers. Ford-Stewart Funeral Home, Inc. Jonesboro/Stockbridge,770-210-2700 www.fordstewartfuneralhome. com