Francis Baldwin Richards, age 94, of 11569 Rt. 19 North, Waterford, died Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at home surrounded by his family. The son of the late John Charles and Maude Baldwin Richards, he was born in Beaver County, PA on July 9, 1916.
Francis retired after 37 years of employment at Sears Roebuck in Erie and had previously worked at J & L Steel in Pittsburgh and Griswold Manufacturing in Erie. He was a longtime member of the Waterford Baptist Church where he contributed many hours to service within the church and in its activities, and was chosen as a lifetime Deacon.
His interests included hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. He and his wife traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada having visited 47 of the 50 states.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Herron Richards, whom he married December 11, 1937 and who died October 10, 2005.
Family members include three children, Meredith Schwenk and her husband Donald of Waterford, Harry Richards and his wife Ruth of New Florence, PA, and Janice Bennett and her husband Ronald, also of Waterford; seven grandchildren, Leslie Schwenk, Ruth (Brian) Newton, Michelle Kishlock, Steve (Julie) Richards and Jeff Richards, and Heather Colby and Jason (Katherine) Bennett; and five great-grandchildren, Jesse and Tia Waldron, Seth and Sadie Richards, and Audrey Bennett.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford, PA on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and may attend the funeral service there on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Rev. James Galvin and Rev. Richard Sementilli will officiate. Burial will follow at Erie County Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Waterford Baptist Church, 325 East Street, Waterford, PA 16441.
The Richards family wishes to extend their thanks to their father’s many caregivers including Bobbette Horneman, Ruth Newton, and Heartland Hospice.
SO SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS. YOU ALL WILL BE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.