Shirley J. Richards, 96

Shirley J. Richards, 96, of Garwin, died Monday April 17th, 2023, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital, under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. She was born July 25, 1926, to Clyde (Tige) and Della (Keoppel) Springer. She was the only child born of the marriage. Shirley attended Garwin School and graduated in the class of 1944.

She married Darrel Richards in Mineral Wells, Texas, on October 1st, 1944, while Darrel was stationed in the Army, serving during WWII. She lived in Garwin and the Garwin area all of her life. She loved the community and all the neighbors who watched out for her in later years. Shirley was an enthusiastic supporter of GMG athletics. In later years, she had a special seat reserved for her and a friend for all home basketball games. She was named the 2022 GMG Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall.

Shirley was a member of the United Methodist Church in Garwin, the Methodist Ladies Aid and Eastern Star of Gladbrook and Traer. She was a fifty-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary Woman’s Club in Garwin. Shirley worked at Marshalltown Trowel for 14 years and volunteered at the Marshalltown Hospital for 16 years. Darrel and Shirley loved to travel and wintered for several years in Arizona.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Beth Richards and Sue (John) Hlas; daughter-in-law, JoAnn Richards; her grandchildren: Scott Richards, Matt Richards, David Hlas and Jordan Mann; her seven great grandchildren: Jessica Richards, Katelyn Pini, Steven Richards, Noah Hlas, Gracen Hlas, Isaac Mann, Lucas Mann; and her great-great granddaughter, Freya Richards.

In death she has joined her husband, Darrel; two sons, Mark and Scott; her parents, Clyde and Della Springer; her half-brother, Elmer Soules and her in-laws, Ross and Aina Richards.

The funeral will be on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 11:00 AM, at the Garwin United Methodist Church. Visitation will be for an hour prior to the service at the church. The burial will take place in Garwin Cemetery. Please direct memorials to the family.