Marjorie Dennis Lange Richardson died peacefully in the care of her family on March 22, 2014, at her home in Petaluma.
She was born on April 13, 1925, in Dubuque, Iowa, the second child of Geraldine Dennis Lange and Harvey Malcolm Lange. She remembered fondly, her life at 879 W. Third St. where she lived with her sister Barbara and their parents.
When she was 12, Clifford and Lillian Richardson moved in next door with their three sons, Art, Bob and Jim. Jim was five years older and very handsome. He went off to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt in World War II and when he returned in 1945 after 84-1/2 missions, having been shot down over Belgium, they were married. Over the next 16 years, they brought seven children into this world and raised them in Dubuque until 1963. During those hectic child-rearing years, Marge still found time to play a good game of golf and to do some volunteer work.
In 1963, the family moved to Miami, Fla., where Jim pursued several entrepreneurial activities. Eventually most of the children had moved to California, and Marge and Jim followed in 1978, settling in Petaluma with the youngest child, Barbara. Life in California was focused on family and retirement activities.
Marge is predeceased by her husband of 61 years; her daughters, Linda and Christina; and her son, Robert Arthur.
She is survived by three daughters, Geraldine R. Brinton (Bill), Marjorie Richardson, Barbara R. Carpenter (Chris); her son, James Dennis Richardson; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She will be remembered fondly by her family and friends for her candid and often unfiltered sense of humor, her interest in the lives and accomplishments of others, her practicality and her common sense based wisdom. The family will have a private celebration of her life this spring.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma, CA 94952.
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