Donna Paton Richards

Donna Paton Richards, 79, passed away on September 13, 2025 at her home in Portsmouth, RI. She was the beloved wife of William A. Richards. Both graduated from North Attleboro High School and were happily married for 57 years.
Born on January 30, 1946, in Attleboro, MA, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Rita (Gay) Paton.
Besides her husband, Donna leaves behind her sister Kathy Heylin, (widow of David Heylin), and Kathy's daughter Shelley Bokelman and husband Michael Bokelman of Franklin, MA. She also is survived by her cherished sisters-in-law: Anne Stoudt and husband Tom Stoudt; Jean Nicholas, widow of Bert Nicholas; and Julie Goss and husband Richard Goss. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, who she loved deeply.
After graduating from the University of Maine with bachelor's degree in English, she became an Army wife – serving with William, at home and abroad, over a 22-year career. During those years she enjoyed traveling, especially to her beloved Great Britain.
In 1984, they settled in Alexandria, VA, near William's work at the Pentagon. There, she employed her love of travel and the arts by helping to organize decorative arts tours to noteworthy East Coast destinations.
She also loved the theater, and over the years took full advantage of the offerings in New York City, and the Washington, DC area. Her many trips to London always included the stage, and she could readily recall the stars and performances many years later.
Donna's great passion was reading, and she was an influential leader in her two book groups. She was never without a book and enjoyed rereading favorite works. Donna also enjoyed hosting Bed and Breakfast guests in their home in historic Old Town Alexandria.
Donna was an Elder and dedicated leader at the nearby Old Presbyterian Meeting House, where her life will be celebrated in a memorial service on Wednesday, November 5, at 1 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House or the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Her burial in New England will be private.