Mary Ellen Richards

RICHARDS, Mary Ellen, age 89, longtime resident of Dayton, passed away March 28, 2015, at Patriot Ridge Community of Fairborn. She was born February 20, 1926 in Dayton, Ohio to Edward E. and Hattie (Wadsworth) Trowbridge. She was a graduate of Fairview High School Class of 1944. She was preceded in death by son, William L. Richards III, sister, Emily Knipfer, brothers, Jackie & William Trowbridge, sister and brother-in-law, Hulda and Hiram Stiver. She is survived by her three daughters, Ruth (Dave) Cline of Columbus, Barbara Richards of Dayton, and Rebecca Wells of Fairborn; three loving grandsons, James (Megan) Wells of Chatsworth, GA, Jacob and Joshua Childers of Fairborn; sister, Jayne Hosterman of Springfield; brother, James Trowbridge of Prescott, AZ; and many nieces, nephews, and special neighbors, the Robert Spreng family. Family, friends and faith were most important to her. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, Sunday School teacher, and Brownie Leader. Mary Ellen was loved by everyone. She worked 19+ years at Imperial House North Motel as Reservation Secretary. She also worked at Ohio Bell from 1944 to 1948, Burke Marketing Research and sold Avon products. She loved knitting, especially sweaters for her family. She was a longtime member of Evangelical United Brethren Church on Salem Avenue in Dayton, where she taught Sunday School and belonged to the Onward Class. A special thank you to all of her loving caregivers at Patriot Ridge Community which she called home for almost seven years. We also wish to thank the team from Hospice of Dayton for all of their support and care. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, April 3 at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia. Interment will follow at Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 5-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary Ellen's memory to Patriot Ridge Community, Fairborn or Hospice of Dayton.