Mary Jane Richardson's Obituary
We are saddened to announce that Mary Jane Richardson passed away on Monday, April 15, 2013 at Wesley Palms in San Diego, California at the age of 96. Mary was born on a farm in Wayne County, Nebraska on November 18, 1916 and was the oldest of 5 siblings. She spent her formative years growing up in North Dakota during the depression years. She moved to Montana to work where she met and married her husband Ken Richardson. They moved to Long Beach, California in 1939 and then settled permanently in the San Diego area where Mary worked in a department store before quitting to spend time with Ken who was working long days and nights in an aircraft plant working on military planes during World War II. Their daughter Gayle, was born in 1943 in San Diego. They soon moved to Mission Valley where Mary spent much of her time tending to their large garden and many fruit trees until they moved to Ocean Beach in 1950. Mary was offered a job by a dentist starting his practice (Dr Buzz Guentner and wife Margi, current WP residents!) in Point Loma and managed the dental office for 14 years doing just about everything but pulling teeth! Mary and Ken both retired the same day in 1973. They moved to Wesley Palms in June, 2000. Mary loved to sew and read and also enjoyed traveling with Ken and friends to Hawaii, Europe and throughout the US. She was very active at Wesley Palms and worked at the What Not shop for seven years, and attending many classes and gatherings plus helping out in many ways. She will be missed a lot.Mary is survived by daughter Gayle and husband Bob Reed, granddaughter Kelly and husband Tim Walston, grandson Mike and wife Andrea Reed, great-granddaughters Emma and Abby Walston and great-grandson Cooper Reed, sister Opal Pinasky and brother Bill Owen.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?

