Esther M. Richey
March 30, 1920 ~ January 9, 2015

Esther M. Richey, 94, Marion, died at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2015 in Century Fields Healthcare in Greentown, IN. Esther was born in Otisco, Clark County, Indiana to the late Ben and Hannah (Clegg) Hopwood. She married Dallas W. Richey on October 5, 1935. He preceded her in death on January 25, 2008.

For the first few years of their marriage, Esther did seasonal work at Morgan Packing Company in Austin, Indiana. After housekeeping at a few locations in Scott County, Dallas and Esther built a modest home on a small farm in Vienna, Indiana. Then in 1948, they purchased a farm and relocated their family to rural Marion, Indiana, where they lived for 60 years. In addition to being a loving homemaker and mother to five boys, she helped extensively with the livestock and other farming duties. She loved raising her own vegetables and canning them, growing flowers in the garden, knitting afghans and making many, many quilts for her large family. Esther said they got married when they were kids (ages 18 & 15) and grew up together. Esther and Dallas were married 72 years before his passing in 2008.

Esther is survived by her sons, Ernest (Virginia) Richey, Morris (Linda) Richey, Sidney (Betty) Richey, all of Marion, Leland (Alice) Richey, Swayzee, Ben (Marcia) Richey, Carmel; brother, James Hopwood, Lexington, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Ruth Henry, Vienna; grandchildren, Vicki (David) Gilbert, Ronda (Brian) Middlesworth, Robin (Larry) Rogers, Cyndi (Greg) Roach, Crystal (Michael) Maynard, Mary (Mike) Valle, Jim (Jennifer) Richey, Melissa (Troy) Yeakle, Paula (Aaron) McMillan, Julie (Nic) Cain, and Amy (Adam) Tohulka; 38 great grandchildren; 15 great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and friends; step-grandchildren, Tracy (Eric) Stewart, Andrea (the late, Fred) Kwains, Heather (Ed) Bigoss, and Michaele (David) Sturgeon.

In addition to her parents, Esther was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dallas; grandsons, Wesley Richey, Ryan Richey, and Christopher Richey; and 10 siblings.

A funeral service for Esther will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2015 at Needham- Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Avenue, Marion, IN, with John Key officiating. Burial will be at Grant Memorial Park, Marion, IN. Visitation will be on Monday, January 12, 2015 from 11:00 to 2:00 p.m., prior to the service at the