Obituary: Ada Ruth Richardson
Ada Ruth Richardson, 94, former resident of Newton, retired
USD 259 school teacher, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.Visitation will be from 2
to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral
service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 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 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 Ruth’s 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 was a member of Hillside
Christian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Retired Teachers’ Association and
several church women’s 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. Richardson’s ability to touch not only the minds but the hearts of
the very youngest of elementary students is reflected in the fact 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. Visit www.dlwichita.com.
