In August, we were saddened by the loss of a long-time devoted Midwest Region member, Edna Richardson.  She passed away on August 02, 2020 at 101 years of age.  Edna was the Midwest Region President when I attended my first region conference in 1997 and for years afterward, I saw her each year at the region conference and the national convention. To get information to write this article, I went through my old newsletters and found the article below in an August 1997 Midwest Region Newsletter, written by Editor Jerry Chittick.

                                         APOLOGIES TO EDNA RICHARDSON

     Last issue of Midwest Region Newsletter revealed what habit and age does to a person!  I simply reported that Edna Richardson had been elected Region President.  After six years of trading “titles” with Nancy Petercheff, I completely neglected to introduce Edna, who had so graciously let us elect her again as Region President. 

     When I introduced Edna as our new Region President in 1982, I said she had been a “volunteer worker on any project” ever since she joined the Chicago Chapter in 1947.  That continues to describe Edna and her devotion to Gold Star Wives on every level – Chapter, Region and National.  Unless family commitments or illness conflict, she is at every region conference and every national convention.   

     She, her daughter and grandchildren went on to Hawaii following San Diego, and I have yet to hear how that portion of the National Convention went.  Maybe she will write up something on that trip to share with us.

This short article gives an excellent picture of how devoted Edna was to Gold Star Wives.  Until her later years, she volunteered wherever there was a need, served numerous terms as region president and attended all region conferences and national conventions.  As I continued my research, I learned that not only was Edna a devoted member of Gold Star Wives, she was also extremely active in her community.  She was a founding member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Vaughn Chapter in Westchester, Illinois and she volunteered for 67 years at the Edward Hines, Jr., VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois.  In 2019, the Vaughn Chapter of the PVA recognized Edna for her service to their organization, presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation and featured her in an issue of their newsletter, The Wheel.  The article was reprinted in the March 2019, GSW National Newsletter.  Edna turned 100 years of age on July 14, 2019 and many Gold Star Wives sent her birthday cards to help celebrate this very special occasion.  She was blessed to see another birthday this year and entered eternal rest at 101 years of age on August 2, 2020.  Well done Edna; rest in peace. 

Madie Tillman
Midwest Region President