Ada Ruth Richardson

Richardson, Ada Ruth, 94, retired USD 259 school teacher, died Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Visitation will be Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 2:00 - 4:00 P.M., at Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 A.M., Monday, December 17, 2012, at Hillside Christian Church. Preceded in death by: her husband, Vernon; son, Larry; daughter, Cheryl; brothers, Charles Olomon, Bernard Olomon; sister, Lucille Sands. Survived by: sister, Cynthia Cripe of Wichita; brother, Ronald Olomon of Garden City; 15 nieces and nephews. Ada Ruth Olomon was born on a farm in Garden City, Kansas in 1918. She graduated from high school at age 16 and then two years later from Garden City Community College. Ada Ruth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology and Psychology. She continued her education at WSU and earned a Master of Education degree in 1969. Ada Ruths first teaching job was at a country school teaching multiple grades at Lake Valley in Garden City. Over the years Ada Ruth taught kindergarten, first grade and fourth grade mostly at elementary schools in Wichita (Minneha, White and Allen). She is a member of Hillside Christian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Retired Teachers Association and several church womens groups. She is past president of the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Kappa Charter. She received the Good Apple Award for teachers who have gone beyond the call of duty when she was at Allen Elementary School. Over the years she taught more than 650 children before retiring in 1984. Mrs. Richardsons ability to touch not only the minds but the hearts of the very youngest of elementary students is reflected in the fact that she is remembered with fondness even decades after they sat in her classroom. Memorials have been established with: Hillside Christian Church, 8330 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67206; The Lee Richardson Zoo, P.O. Box 1638, Garden City, KS 67846.