Richards, Bruce J. 1927-1999 Cooperstown NY Obituary

Bruce J. Richards

COOPERSTOWN — Bruce J. Richards, 72, of Hade Hollow Road, Cooperstown died suddenly, Saturday evening, May 8, 1999, at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
He was born on Jan 30, 1927, at the Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, a son of Jesse A. and Bernice (Kane) Richards.
He married Erna D. Hovik on May 12, 1974, in Middlefield.
Bruce was a lifelong resident of Cooperstown and was a graduate of the Cooperstown High School. Following high school, he went to work for the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, where he was employed in the area of lawn and grounds maintenance. Towards the end of his career at the hospital, he served as a security guard, retiring in 1973. In the years following his retirement, he did landscaping for many Cooperstown residents.
Strong in the Baptist faith, Bruce was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, was one of the first members of the Native Sons in Cooperstown, was a member of the Sons of Norway, and was a dedicated member of the National Rifle Association. He had a great love of the outdoors and was happiest in the woods, surrounded by nature.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 25 years, Erna; two daughters, Deborah Lints and her life companion, Ken Knutsen of Central Bridge and Mary Killmeier and her husband, Albert of Cherry Valley; one stepdaughter, Katrina Cade and her husband, Stanley of Roseboom; three stepsons, Theodore Bergene and his wife, Mary of Oswego, Gregory Bergene and his wife, Susan of Cooperstown and Steven Bergene and his wife, Jeannette of Apex, N.C.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Carl Perry and his wife, Dorothy of Florida; a special friend, Grandma Zaugg; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by one brother, Melvin D. Perry Sr., who died on Jan. 13, 1984.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Douglas Deer, pastor, officiating. A reception will follow downstairs in the church's fellowship hall. Burial will be private in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery.
At the request of the family, there will be no calling hours.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, 19 Elm St., Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326, the Cooperstown Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 322, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326 or the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Hill Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Published in The Daily Star on May 10, 1999.


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