Obituary of Iona Elizabeth Richards
Toulon – Iona Elizabeth Richards, 94, of Toulon, passed away at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, June 27, 2010, at her residence in Toulon.
Iona was born October 5, 1915, in Albion Prairie, WI, the daughter of Rev. D.J. & Clara Marie Hinkins Geach. She and her parents moved to Illinois in 1926 when her father answered the pastorate call to the United Methodist Church in Kewanee. He later transferred to the Toulon United Methodist Church in 1930. Iona graduated from Toulon High School in 1932, attended MacMurray College for two years, and then transferred to University of Illinois, where she graduated with an Education degree in 1936.
Iona E. Geach and John E. Richards were married September 25, 1939, in Atlanta, IL by her father in her parents’ home. John preceded her in death on September 5, 1978. Also preceding her in death were her parents.
Surviving are her two children, Mary (Larry) Meaker of rural Toulon, and Rodney Richards of Toulon; eight grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, & two great-great grandchildren.
She taught at Toulon High School and was the first to teach trigonometry at what is now Stark County High School. Iona later taught remedial reading at the Toulon Grade School. Iona also taught Junior High Sunday School at Toulon United Methodist Church for several years.
She was a member of PEO Toulon Chapter BY, Toulon Women’s Club and Garden Club, MacMurray Alumni Association, and served on the Toulon Public Library Board. She was a member of Toulon United Methodist Church, where she served on the Administrative Board, and served for 50 years as the World Service Chairperson.
Her hobbies included knitting, flower gardening, traveling and wintering in Arizona, attending church, being involved with children, playing bridge with her friends, and in later years, watching game shows and cooking programs on television.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Toulon United Methodist Church. Rev. Paul Wier will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will be in Toulon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Toulon United Methodist Church, Shriner’s Children’s Hospital of Illinois, or to the Toulon Public Library.
DeBolt-Kidd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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