Obituary of Bertha E. Richards

Bertha E. Richards (nee Baldwin) Bertha E. Richards, 94, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Chestnut Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Oneonta. She was born on February 8, 1920 in Ashe County, North Carolina, daughter of the late William and Viola (Marsh) Baldwin. She graduated from Fleetwood, NC High School in 1938 and from Brevard College, Brevard, North Carolina in 1942. She was a substitute teacher at her alma mater for several years then worked for several years as a pre-school teacher in Baltimore, MD. She was married to James B. Richards in Baltimore in August of 1954 and lived in Baltimore until 1959, when they moved to Oneonta, NY, where she and her husband managed the Palace Theater. In 1961, they relocated to Sidney when they purchased the Sidney Theater, which they ran until 1978. She and Jim then moved back to Baltimore. Jim predeceased her in 1996 after 44 years of marriage. Bertha remained in Baltimore until 2005 when she returned to upstate New York. She lived for several years at the Hampshire House in Oneonta before moving to the Chestnut Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2008 where she remained until her passing. Bertha is survived by: her son, Dr. David S. Richards and his wife, Julie of Franklin, NY; step-son, Mark Richards and his wife, Linda of Fairfax, VA; grandchildren: Mary E. Santana of Sidney and Matthew James Richards of Jackson Heights; great-grandchildren, Anthony James Santana and Alexis Jade Santana of Sidney; sisters, Gertrude Lucas of Baltimore, MD; Mabel Poling of Baltimore, Wanda Pugh of Abingdon, VA, and Jean Cullison of Lancaster, PA; and brother, John Baldwin of West Jefferson, NC. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband, Bertha was predeceased by siblings Clyde Miller, Ressie (Rene) Garner, Bessie Lucas, James Baldwin, Walter Baldwin, Luther (Tom) Baldwin and Minnie Lou Baldwin. Her family wishes to thank all the kind and caring staff of the Hampshire House and Chestnut Park for all they did for Bertha. Friends are invited to call from 10:00am until 12noon on Monday, November 24, 2014 at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney. A prayer service will follow at 12:00noon at the funeral chapel with Fr. Gordon Polenz, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church officiating. Burial will take place in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Baltimore, MD. Condolences and memories may be shared with Bertha's family online at www.landersfh.com. Local arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.