Lois R. Richardson, age 85, of Washington, Iowa died Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Halcyon House in Washington following several months of declining health.

Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 15, 2010 at the Jones Eden Funeral Home with Fr. Troy Richmond officiating. Visitation will begin noon Thursday at the Jones Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Prayer services will be held 6:00 p.m. Thursday at the Jones Eden Funeral Home. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County, Halcyon House Good Samaritan Fund or St. James School.
Online condolences may be sent for Lois's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Lois was born October 13, 1924 in Ainsworth, Iowa the daughter of William Benona and Cecyl (Corbett) Fitzgerald. She graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1942. Lois attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa and graduated from St. Luke's School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Louis Vernon Richardson on January 4, 1946 at the St. James Church Rectory in Washington, Iowa.

The Richardsons resided in Washington approximately eight years after their marriage. They later resided in Swisher, the Amana Colonies and Oxford. The couple returned to Washington from Oxford in 1962, when they purchased the Iowa Café from Vern's mother. Vern and Lois operated what was remodeled into the Iowa Frontier Restaurant for more than 25 years until their retirement in 1987. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church, Altar and Rosary Society and the Catholic Daughters. Lois was a gifted musician both with her vocal talents and playing the guitar. She played in a trio while wintering in Arizona. She enjoyed boating, traveling in their RV and traveling on their Gold Wing Motorcycle. As a young girl, Lois had a fondness for horses.

Lois is survived by her children including two sons: J. Brian Richardson and wife Felicia of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and E. Douglas Richardson and wife Patricia of Eagle River, Alaska; two daughters: Wendy L. Heck of Washington, Iowa and Beth Anne Williams and husband Rodger of Henderson, Nevada. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Christopher Richardson and wife Leslie of Seattle, Washington; Kylynne Kruse of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Jennifer Richardson of Anchorage, Alaska; Michelle Winn and husband Ryan of Santa Rita, Guam; Jared Heck and wife Kristin Gehrels of St. Charles, Illinois; Jordan Heck of Washington, Iowa; Stacy Edwards Tuttle and husband Matt of Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Rebecca Edwards Allhiser of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vern Richardson in 2009, one grandson Barry T. Richardson; one daughter-in-law, Judith A. Richardson; one son-in-law, James E. Heck and two sisters Marian Wieland and Grace Wood.