Published November 23, 2018
LA JOLLA, Calif. — Bertha F. Richardson, 103, resident of La Jolla, Calif., and formerly of Melrose, died peacefully on Saturday, October 13, 2018. She was 103.
Bertha was born in Melrose on September 10, 1915, one of four children of the late Francis H. and Mabel F. (Palmer) Richardson.
Bertha grew up in Melrose, graduating from Melrose High School in 1933, and the Massachusetts College of Art in 1938. She worked in the Mechanical Engineering field as a designer, draftsman, and engineer. Over 40 years she worked first at General Electric, and then Jackson & Mooreland largely under contract to MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, and then at Stone & Webster. She loved her work as it appealed to her attention to detail, and artistic and precision abilities.
Outside of her work, Bertha volunteered in various organizations in the area, including P.E.O., Chapter M, Kappa Delta Psi, and was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Melrose. She enjoyed doing any design or print work needed for any organizations she volunteered for. She also enjoyed traveling and playing bridge.
Bertha spent the last 12 years living in the San Diego area near her niece Linda, but always kept Melrose in her heart.
Bertha touched many lives in her 103 years, and those she loved will miss her dearly.
Bertha is the dear sister of the late Harold Richardson, Myrtice Russell, and Norman Richardson. Cherished aunt of Jean Tibbetts and her husband Douglas of Melrose, Linda Costello and her husband Dennis of Solana Beach, Calif., Elizabeth Ruben, Connie Van Valer, and Carol Dennis, all of Indiana.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor and remembrance of Bertha’s life for her memorial service at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Gifts in Bertha’s memory may be made to the Courtney Elyse Beauchesne Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 760695, Melrose, MA. 02176.
For online tribute or directions visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
