Dorothy Eldridge Richter

Dorothy Eldridge Ruggles Richter, 99, of Lake Worth, Florida, passed away peacefully in Wellington Regional Hospital on November 10, 2014 following a short illness. Beloved mother of Thomas J. Gray (Patricia), Blairsville, GA, and Richard H. Gray (Wendy), Beaumont, TX, loving grandmother of Jacquie Colgan (nee Gray) (Susan), Kerry Aubé Lingle (dec.), Brooke Aubé (Tony), Richard Gray (Samantha), Roger Gray, Ronald Gray, Sandy Shrader, and Patrick Swain; great grandmother of Samantha Martin, Virginia Colgan, Brittany Taylor, Judd Taylor, Ryan Gray, Alyssa Gray, Aaron Daugherty, Shelby Ford (nee Gray), and great-great grandmother of Tyson Ford; caring nieces Ruth Akers, Lois Bart, Beth Paul, and nephew Phil Ruggles, and many dear friends. Born in Quincy, MA in 1915, the daughter of John K. Ruggles and Martha Horton, she received a B.A. degree from Tufts Univ., MA, in 1937 and an M.A. from Appalachian State Univ., NC, in 1955. She moved from MA to FL in 1950. She worked in the Palm Beach County, FL School System as an elementary School teacher and librarian. Dorothy had a wonderful zest for life with memberships in numerous clubs and associations including Palm Beach County Educational Media Assoc., FL Assoc. of Media in Education, Puppeteers of America, Class A Member, the Red Hat Society, NARFE 160 Chapter, AOII Sorority, the Writing Class, Lake Worth, and the Senior Center, remaining active in several organizations until her death. Dorothy was a member of Saint Andrews Lutheran Church for many years, and more recently attended Unity Church in Delray Beach. An avid and accomplished ballroom dancer, Dorothy performed in some of the great ballrooms in Florida and New York. Puppeteering was her passion and she made scores of incredibly colorful puppets and marionettes, performing in schools and homes entertaining children and adults alike. She will be remembered by many! A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2014, followed by a luncheon, at the Dorsey – E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Humane Society of your choice. Visit www.palmbeachpost.com/obituaries to express condolences and http://www2.palmbeachpost.com/projects/classifieds/charities.php to make donations.

Arrangements under the direction of Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, Lake Worth, FL.