Obituary:
Grace Richardson McConnell age 89, of Pleasantville, NY died at the NY State Veterans’’ Home Montrose NY. She was born to Walter and Ruth Williams Richardson March 23, 1922 in Fountain City, Indiana. She was married to Thomas P. McConnell, from Kokomo, Ind. While they were third year students at Indiana University. She lived a life that mattered, receiving awards in scholarship, honored for 35 years of continuous Girl Scout leadership. 15 years tutoring English as a second language with 3 students becoming citizens, in addition to volunteering in Presbyterian Churches and community activities culminating in induction with special recognition into the Westchester County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in 2000. She taught reading in private schools. Her biweekly column, “Pleasant Illuminations” in the Patent Trader newspaper, was enjoyed by many readers. Many articles were based on travel to 22 countries and fifty states. Tom left in 1943 to enter the Army Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. She became a Camp Follower and pinned on Tom’s Bombardier wings and Lieutenant bars May 20, 1944. She returned to live with Tom’s sister near Kokomo, Ind. while both husbands were in the army. During the year following Tom, she did substitute teaching in three states and worked in commerce. Daughter Frances born May 1, 1945 as European WWII ended. Their happiest day was Tom’s safe return from combat to meet as a family holding the six week old baby at the bus stop. They returned to IU with baby Frances and completed their educations. She adjusted to living where Tom’s corporate career took them. She received a Masters Degree in Education at age 57 at Geneseo State University. She is survived by her husband, a brother Edwin Richardson of Des Moines, Iowa her daughters Frances Mower(Herbert), Margo Rosati, four adult Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren, all living in Massachusetts…..She is predeceased by her son, Thomas R. McConnell, who died as a teenager. Grace was proud of her early American roots, having some ancestors who arrived in this country in the 1600’s and Quaker ancestors who helped found Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. A memorial service will be held at the Pleasantville Presbyterian Church on Saturday February 25 at 11am .
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