Virginia Nola Richardson

July 16, 1922 - May 9, 2020

Virginia Richardson went to be with her Savior on May 9 after a long and full life, at the age of 97. Virginia is survived by: her children--Mary Norman, Ginny (Jim) Garnett, Stephen (Susan) Richardson, Sharon (Douglas) Laird, Mark Richardson, Marcia (Craig) Johnson, and Dan Richardson; 21 grandchildren, many, many great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild on the way; her brother Russell (Barbara) Spear; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ray; her son Kenneth, and grandchildren Peter Wheat, Shawn Bleeker and Melissa (Bleeker) Swisher; and her brother Lloyd Spear and sister Julie (Spear) Kraft. Virginia Nola Spear was born on July 16, 1922, to Virgil and Nola Spear in Fairmont, Minnesota. She was born again, trusting Christ to save her, during her high school years in Algona, Iowa. She and Ray Richardson began dating soon after that. She attended Northwestern Bible School after high school. She and Ray were married in 1942, and were married nearly 64 years. For all her married life, Virginia loved, supported and helped Ray as he pastored in Baptist churches in Wisconsin (LaCrosse), Minnesota (Stewartville), and Iowa (Waukon, Waverly, and Winterset). Together, they raised eight children. Virginia worked in the home caring for the children, keeping them fed and clothed, cheering them on in their schoolwork and music lessons, and pointing them to Jesus. She volunteered continually at church and was a true partner in ministry with Ray. When the two dozen grandchildren and 40-plus great-grandchildren began to arrive, she received much joy from spending time with them. She was a faithful prayer warrior, and knew ALL of their names and prayers requests. In their retirement years, Virginia and Ray lived in Algona, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo. Friendship Village has been a wonderful final home for them both, since 2002. When Ray developed Parkinsons, Virginia was able to care for him in their apartment until his last year of life (2006), when he moved to the Friendship Village Pavilion. As Virginia has needed nursing care in her final months, once again the staff at the Pavilion, along with Cedar Valley Hospice, have cared for her with skill, compassion and love. The family is so grateful to all the staff and volunteers—especially those of the COVID-19 team—who have made her comfortable during her final days. Memorial Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2020 at Hagerman Baptist Church in Waterloo. Private family graveside services were held at East Lawn Cemetery in Algona, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, Virginia would have greatly appreciated a memorial to Hagerman Baptist Church, or Friendship Village Foundation.