Patricia Anne "Pattie" Richardson Obituary (1946 - 2023)

Patricia Anne "Pattie" Richardson, 76, of Decatur, IL passed away at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 20, 2023, in her residence. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Friday, June 2, 2023, at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m., until service time. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Pattie was born June 17, 1946, in Wichita Falls, Texas the daughter of Herbert O. and Dorothy (Dobbs) Wands. She grew up in various locations due to her father's military service, like Japan, Tulsa, OK, and Texarkana, Tx. She cherished her time at Southwestern College in Winfield, Ks. Her first marriage led her to Decatur, Il, where she started her career in the research department at ADM. She married William C. "Bill" Richardson on August 9, 1991. Pattie retired as a teaching assistant in Decatur Public Schools #61 in 2011. She worked in special education classrooms and early childhood classrooms at Harris Elementary, Garfield Montessori, and Baum Elementary. Pattie was heavily involved in leadership roles in the local teaching union. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority Many of these affiliations led to her volunteer work throughout the years. She was a former member of the Elwin United Methodist Church and of Central United Methodist Church. She had a passion for traveling and took many trips all across the world, including Cuba, Iceland, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Alaska, and countless National Parks. In her spare time, you could find her tending her beautiful gardens or floating in her swimming pool. Pattie loved her ever growing family and hosting them at the home she spent years perfecting with her husband of almost 32 years. Over the past ten years, an early onset of Alzheimer's disease strengthened their love as Bill took care of her selflessly through each stage. Surviving is her husband: Bill of Decatur, IL; children: Rick VanArsdale (Christine) of Sydney, Australia, Teresa Richardson-Patton (Joe) of Decatur, Vanessa Gerling of Nashville, TN, Walker VanArsdale (Christina) of Round Lake Beach, IL, and Kaley VanArsdale (Cass Weidemueller) of Montrose, CO; brother: Mike Wands of Grand Prairie, TX; fourteen grandchildren: William Gerling (Angel), Jessica VanArsdale, Robert "RJ" Chapman Jr., Ashley Copple, Sarah Copple, Jonathan Snowden, Joshua VanArsdale, Jonah VanArsdale, Parker VanArsdale, Landon VanArsdale, Avery VanArsdale, Charlotte VanArsdale, Eleanor Weidemueller, and Lorelei Weidemueller; great grandchildren: Aubreonna Gerling, Xavier Gerling, Bella Gerling, Zander Gerling, Adilyn Mense, Alex VanArsdale, Stellaluna VanArsdale, and Natalie Chapman. Pattie was preceded in death by her parents.