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VAN WERT – Mary Jane Richardson, 79, of Van Wert, OH, died at 2:55 a.m., Sunday, February 24, 2019, at the Meadows of Delphos.
She was born on May 31, 1939, in Dixon, Illinois, the daughter of the late Frank & Helen (Noble) Wolfe. She married Robert D. Perry, who preceded her in death in September of 2005. On November 8, 2008, she married John E. Richardson, who survives.
Family survivors include her two sons, John (Marla) Perry of Savanna, Georgia, and Daniel (Traci) Perry of Warren, Illinois; a daughter, Barbara Young of Warren, Illinois; two sisters, Helen Pickard of Indiana Lake Estates, Florida and Margaret Burton of Decatur, Illinois; stepchildren, Paul E. (Anne Penny) Richardson of Wren, Stephen E. Richardson of Convoy, and Jill A. (Todd) William of Rockford; twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, M. Louise Johnson.
Mary Jane was a graduate of Dixon High School and received her bachelors degree from Taylor University. She also received her master’s degree in early childhood education from Western Illinois University. She had served at the Salem Children’s Home in Flanagen, Illinois for 20 years, then taught elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida for 15 years. She also cared from many foster children over the years. Mary Jane was active in several churches and especially church choirs in Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio and was currently a member of Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert with Pastor Clark Williman officiating. There will be calling hours from 4 - 7 p.m., Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services Thursday at the Church. There will also be calling hours from 12 - 2 p.m. on Saturday at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 1121 Galena Avenue, Dixon, Illinois. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Expressions by sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com.