GREENFIELD
Rosalie Nelson Richardson, 84, of Greenfield died November 17, 2023.
She was a member of the Hancock County Council for 12 years, a member of the Greenfield-Central School Board for eight years and was the Center Township Trustee for four years. In addition she was a member of the Community Corrections Board, the Hancock County Tourism Commission, the Hancock County Public Defender Board and the Greenfield-Central Middle School Building Corporation.
She was a board member of Greenfield Historic Landmarks for more than three decades and an original member of the Hancock County Historical Society, where she had served as president. She also was an active member of Regreening Greenfield.
She was the co-author of the book titled Hancock County, Indiana: A Pictorial History, which was sponsored by Indiana Landmarks, and the Greenfield Banking Company, and is now owned by Harvard University. It catalogued all of the historically significant people and places in Hancock County. There is a copy in the Hancock County Library.
Rosalie for many years guided tours of the Hancock County Courthouse, the Old Log Jail and Mary Moore Nature Park.
Interested in poetry throughout her life, she received a writing award from the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
She had served as a member of the Board of Deacons at the Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and served as President of the Women’s Republican Club.
She received the Distinguished Hoosier Award by Governor Mitch Daniels.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, she was the salutatorian of Jefferson High School. She attended Purdue University for two years, where she was a member of the Purdue Debate Team and Chi Omega Sorority.She received her bachelor’s degree in one additional year from Indiana University with high honors in Social Studies, where she also received her masters’ degree in English. After graduation she taught school for several years at the Greenfield-Central Junior and High Schools.
Rosalie is survived by her children Robert A. Richardson (Valerie) and Diana Shepler (Brent) and three grandchildren: Maverick Shepler, Carson Richardson, and Julianne Hatcher. She was predeceased by her sister, Barbara Nelson.
Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 to 4:30 P.M. this Tuesday, November 21, at the Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 23 N. East Street in Greenfield. Services will be there at 4:30 P.M.
In lieu of flowers Rosalie requests that you plant a tree or donate time or resources to the environment.
Please share your memories of Rosalie and condolences with her family at www.stillingerfamily.com.
