Eleanor Grace Richardson

ELEANOR GRACE RICHARDSON 5/9/1926 - May 23, 2013 Eleanor Grace Richardson, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away May 23, 2013, at her home in Ojai, CA. She was 87 years old and will be remembered for her love of life and indomitable spirit. She was born Eleanor Grace Martinez in 1926 in San Mateo, CA, to Amelia Shuneyva Martinez, a Russian émigré, and Joseph Martinez, a Guatemalan émigré who was born in Spain. Eleanor sailed with her parents and two siblings, Joseph and Ruby, to Guatemala when she was not quite two years old and lived there until she was five. She returned to the Bay Area with her mother and siblings, growing up in Los Altos during the Great Depression and World War II. Eleanor met her future husband Orville Roderick Richardson when they were both 10 years of age. They were high school sweethearts, graduating together from Mountain View High School in 1944. Eleanor went on to attend University of California Berkeley where she joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was admired for her great beauty and style. Eleanor and Rod were married in Lake Tahoe in 1947. After brief stints in Los Altos and Whittier, they settled in Manhattan Beach in Southern California, where they raised their four children. During those busy years, Eleanor was a part-time working mother, a Cub Scout den mother, and a member and president of the Dolphins, a women's service club. She loved to play bridge and entertain, developing her talent and reputation as a wonderful cook. When her children were older Eleanor worked in several different businesses and distinguished herself as a very capable office manager and bookkeeper, endearing herself to the owners, other employees, and their clients, as well as demonstrating to her children what it took to raise a family and support a household. Her family was her proudest accomplishment. Eleanor and Rod were married for 63 years. They enjoyed homes, friends, and family in Huntington Harbor and San Dimas before moving to Apple Valley in 1980, living there until Rod's death in 2010. Soon after, Eleanor moved to Ojai to be closer to her children. Her love of people won many friends in her new town. Despite serious illness, she maintained her warmth and humor, and showed her bravery, perseverance, and strength of character up to her death. Eleanor is survived by her sister Ruby Tull (Lee), and brother-in-law Douglas Richardson (Gladys), sons Douglas Grant Richardson (Lisa) and Brian James Richardson (Joie), daughters Frances Amelia Goodrow and Deborah Ann Tolejko (Paul), 13 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held August 10 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, officiated by Eleanor's nephew the Very Reverend Scott Richardson. Remembrances may be made to Help of Ojai or Livingstone Memorial Visiting Nurse and Hospice.