Alice Richardson

1937 - 2021

Alice Richardson

Stillwater, OK - Alice Richardson, a longtime Stillwater resident, died at Stillwater Medical Center on March 11, 2021. Her memorial service will take place at Stillwater's First United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 400 West Seventh Ave. and will be available to livestream on her personal page at strodefh.com. A reception in honor of Alice and Paul Richardson will take place at the church after the service. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Alice was born on September 22, 1937, in Covington, KY to George and Laura (Austin) Mistler. She and her four siblings grew up in Covington. Alice attended public schools and graduated from Holmes high school.

In 1957, Alice met Paul Richardson when he came to a family Thanksgiving dinner as the guest of one of her uncles. Paul called very soon after to ask her out on the first date that began their lifelong romance.

Alice and Paul were married in Covington on May 3, 1958. Their daughter Ruth was born the following year. The family lived in Covington with Alice working at Proctor and Gamble corporate headquarters in Cincinnati while Paul completed three graduate degrees including his doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. The family then moved to Stillwater in August of 1968 after Paul accepted a teaching position in the Department of Botany and Microbiology at Oklahoma State University.

Alice enrolled at OSU to pursue a degree in accounting. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. While working on her degree, Alice was accepted into Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Student Honor Society. In March of 1975, Alice passed the accounting exam to become a Certified Public Accountant.

Alice became the OSU Student Union Business Manager on July 1, 1974. She served in that position until her retirement on July 31, 1997. After her retirement, she remained close friends with many of her Student Union colleagues.

Alice joined the Stillwater League of Women Voters in September 1971 and was an active League member until her death. Alice became League Treasurer soon after she became a member and she remained Treasurer until recently. She also maintained the membership roster and kept the local LWV archives.

For all of her League activities, Alice was honored several times as Stillwater's most valued member at the State LWV level. Alice also chaired the Oklahoma LWV budget committee for many years.

Another special volunteer activity for Alice was Stillwater's Habitat for Humanity. For more than 12 years she served in various capacities including being on the finance committee as well as taking minutes, writing reports, keeping the accounts in order and mentoring her replacements.

She loved gardening and became a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society. She firmly believed in life-long learning and shared the scriptural foundation of Berea College that "God has made of one blood all the peoples of the earth."

She and Paul were faithful in their attendance at Stillwater's First United Methodist Church and followed the services on the radio after Paul's illness kept them from church attendance.

Before her death, she established endowed scholarships with Paul at Oklahoma State University and The University of Kentucky.

For many years, Alice was a devoted caregiver to her beloved husband Paul until his death in February.

Alice was unfailingly kind, generous and patient in both public and personal life. Even when she was not feeling well, she had a smile on her face and an encouraging word for everyone with whom she spoke.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband Paul, parents Laura and George, sister Nancy Reed, brothers William Mistler and Jesse Sanders.

She is survived by her daughter Ruth Fillmore and husband Kirk; sister Laura Tegstam, brother Daniel Mistler; nieces Donna Bartman, Rose Brown, Sharon Fritz; nephews David Reed, Joey Mistler and their families.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to www.stillwaterhabitat.org

Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.