WILMA RICHARDS

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Wilma Grace Richards, 86, of Villa Ridge died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Nov. 10, 1913, in Pulaski, daughter of Warren Earnest and Amelia Elizabeth Atherton Edwards. She married Willis C. Richards, who died Oct. 2, 1986.

Richards was a child care provider many years and had also been a bus driver for Bryant School in Pulaski County. She was the oldest living member of Center Methodist Church near Olmsted and was a member of American Legion Auxiliary in Villa Ridge.

Survivors include three daughters, Grace Richards of Mounds, Marie Watson and Janet Farris of Villa Ridge; a son, James "Jim" Richards of Mounds; a sister, Jennie Thurston of Pulaski; a nephew she helped raise, Glenn Richards of Williamston, S.C.; a niece she helped raise, Mary Hurley of Baltimore, Mich.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge and after noon Sunday at Center Methodist Church.

Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, with the Rev. Jesse McPherson officiating. Burial will be in Cache Chapel Cemetery near Ullin.