Grace Stevenson Richards

1932 - 2015

Richards Grace Stevenson Richards was a classy, generous and caring woman. She will always be remembered as a mother and friend to all she met. A graduate of Jackson Twp. High School and The Ohio State University, Grace was a full partner and corporate officer in the Richards' Family Farm operations. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church where she served on many committees. She previously taught Sunday school at the Methodist Church. Grace was a member and past president of the Child Conservation League. She selected the recipient of the Richards' Farms annual scholarship at The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. While living in Washington D.C., Grace was active in the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) and was hostess for many Soil Conservation Service events. As an Earth Team volunteer, Grace was well-known for her ability to foster camaraderie and her personal knowledge of conservation farming operations to encourage others to volunteer for conservation activities. In addition, Grace was hostess for many events at her farm home, entertaining hundreds of friends each year alongside her family. Complete with her fantastic cooking and ability to converse with anyone, she lit up any party and any room. Her hospitality and her love for people made all feel welcome. At 83 years of age, Grace passed on December 4, 2015, due to a brain aneurysm. Grace is survived by her partner, best friend and husband of 63 years, Bill Richards; sons, Bruce S. (Betsy) Richards and Elmon (Connie) Richards of Circleville; daughter-in-law, Loribeth Kowalski, Circleville; brother, Bruce Stevenson, Circleville; sister, Margaret (Glen) Barnhart, Dayton; grandchildren, Ashley, Brock, Mason, Maria, Julie, Jason and Lisa; special cousin, Dr. Richard (Paulette) Stevenson; and many relatives and friends. Grace was preceded in death by her son Steve Richards, father George Bruce Stevenson, mother Carolyn Averill Stevenson, sister-in-law Betty Stevenson, cousin and neighbor John Stevenson and many other Stevensons (she was the senior leader of the Stevenson clan). The family will receive friends from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Richards' family home at 24537 Canal Road, Circleville. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, December 14 at the Presbyterian Church, 134 E. Mound St., Circleville, OH 43113. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Grace Richards Memorial Fund in care of the Presbyterian Church at the address above. Arrangements were made with DEFENBAUGH-WISE-SCHOEDINGER FUNERAL HOME, Circleville. To share a memory of Grace, or to send condolences, visit www.schoedinger.com.