Betty H. Richmond

Betty H. Richmond, 82, of Meadville, died Friday, August 23, 2013 at her residence surround by loving family.

She was born July 29, 1931 in Plainfield, NJ, a daughter Grace Schwartje Hubbell and Jesse P. Hubbell, inventor, she grew up in Fanwood, NJ.  Growing up in a pre-revolutionary farmhouse, on a major Indian trail, may have contributed to her love of history!  She graduated with honors from Scotch Plains High School in June of 1948.  Betty married Francis (Fran) W. Richmond January 31, 1951 and he preceded her in death October 17, 2007.

Betty came to Meadville in September of 1948 to attend Allegheny College and has lived here ever since.  She was a member of the Chapel Choir, the Allegheny Singers, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and the honorary education fraternity Kappa Delta Epsilon.  She graduated from Allegheny College in January 1952 with a B.A. in elementary education.  She taught a year and a half in Vernon Township Schools, retiring in June of 1952 to raise a family.  She returned to teaching in Crawford County in 1966, receiving her M.S. in elementary education from Edinboro University in 1971.  Most of her teaching took place at First District Elementary School until her retirement in 1992.

Active in the community, Betty was the former vice president of the Crawford County Historical Society; past president of the Meadville Women’s Literary Club; member and recipient of the community service award in 2000 of the honorary education society Delta Kappa Gamma; church and civic choirs; and member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, including woman of the year in 1994.  She was the education committee chairwoman for Meadville’s 1988 Bi-Centennial and a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville.

Betty was an accomplished writer and presenter.  She created and presented slide presentations, featuring Meadville history, Ida Tarbell, and George Washington’s 1753 Journey through Northwestern Pennsylvania, at many venues – schools, historical societies, church and civic groups including Allegheny College and Indiana University of PA; the International Convention of Delta Kappa Gamma, teachers’ honorary society in San Diego, CA in 2006; and the Pennsylvania state convention of retired school employees (PASR) in 2006.

Betty’s creative work included: Young George Washington:  Frontier Spy, a nonfiction story of the 21-year old Washington’s hazardous trip into the wilds of western Pennsylvania published in 2003; created the workbook series Using Math, with “newspaper ad” story problems for grades 3-6, 1980-1990; and created the activity book for George Washington Afloat, 1999 reenactment of the French Creek Project, used by schoolchildren in districts bordering French Creek in Pennsylvania and New York.

Survivors include four children, Kent H. Richmond of Chicago, IL, Mark W. Richmond of Erie, Ruth Richmond and Christopher Solar of Bow, WA, and Kathy Richmond of Meadville; and two grandchildren, Jonathan and Allison Richmond of Erie.

A memorial service at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 346 Chestnut St., Meadville will be announced at a future date and time.

Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church, 346 Chestnut St. or Allegheny College, 520 N. Main St., both of Meadville, PA 16335.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.