Darlene Richardson

Darlene (Marcum) Richardson, age 74, lifelong resident of Hamilton, Ohio, passed away on November 29, 2011, at Mercy Hospital Fairfield. She was born to Robert and Martha (Roark) Marcum on June 12, 1937. She was married to Earl Richardson Jr. on August 13, 1955 in Liberty, Indiana.

Darlene was employed at The City of Fairfield Income Tax Department for 17 years, until her retirement due to illness in 1995. Due to her illnesses, she was confined to her home for 12 years. She was baptized in 1959 at North 7th Street Church of Christ in Hamilton. She was a devout Christian, very dedicated to the Lord, and making sure that she lived her life the way that Christ expected her to. She always had a positive attitude toward life, and was an inspiration to many people. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and, like her mother, she was very wise. Darlene never met a stranger, and was a very caring and compassionate person. All who knew her will remember her for her unwavering kindness and generosity.

Darlene enjoyed watching sports, including NASCAR and ice skating, and was a well known tennis and Roger Federer fan. She was blessed to have been raised in a home full of talented musicians who instilled in her a strong love of music during her lifetime. Most of all, Darlene enjoyed spending time with her loved ones, especially during the Christmas season.

She is survived by three daughters, Sherri (Frank) Doria of Hamilton, Rhonda Richardson (fiancé Gentry Stevens) of Hamilton, Gina (Mark) Hertel of Brookville, Indiana, and daughter by heart, Cherie Smith of Hamilton, two grandsons, Ryan Freeman (fiancé Laura Simpson) of Hamilton and Brent Doria of Columbus, Ohio. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Aryanna Barreiro, Fiona Barreiro, and Ryan Prazynski, and several nieces, nephews and friends that were all very dear to her heart.

Darlene is also survived by her loving brothers and sister: Robert Marcum Jr., Tom Marcum, both of Hamilton, Denny Marcum of Brookville, IN, Clyde (Brenda) Marcum of Sharonville, Ohio, and Sharon (David) Harris of Middletown, Ohio, and her loving niece Lori Harris Barger of Saint Paul, Nebraska, Sister-in-law Jean (Martin) Carter of Fairfield, Ohio and Tom (Carol) Richardson of Springville, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 49 years and high school sweetheart Earl Richardson Jr., her sister Georgia (Garnett) McGuire, brother Roy (Jean) Marcum, sister-in-law Maxine Phipps and husband Fred Phipps, brother-in-law Carl Richardson, and her grandson Ethan Doria.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Edward Herzig and his former nurse Kathy Stevens at Internists of Fairfield, her home health nurse Terry Harris of Care Connection, prayer partners Leanne Spivey and sister-in-law Jean Carter, Pastor Dan Walters of Tri Country Nazarene Church for his support and prayers throughout her illness, the employees of Mercy Hospital Fairfield for her excellent care, DJ Hamilton for his love and support of our family, devoted neighbors Jean Nohrer and Jaunita O'Donahue, special cousin Florence Brickles, and her lifelong friend Bernice Howard.

She will be forever loved and missed by all who knew her and were touched by her life here on earth. She always thanked the Lord for all of the angels that were brought to care for her; now she can be one of ours.