Donna Richards 1960-2022
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Donna Richards, 61, of St. Augustine, Fla., beloved wife, sister, aunt and friend, passed away Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. She battled cancer valiantly for four years and Muscular Dystrophy all of her life. In spite of her illnesses, she persevered, from running the Dam at West Branch to climbing the stairs at the World Famous Oasis to play trivia. Giving up just wasn’t in her vocabulary.
Donna was born in 1960, in Warren, and is a 1978 graduate of Jackson-Milton High School. Donna married Bill Miller, her husband of 38 years, in 1983 and embarked on a full and rich life. She resided in St. Augustine, Fla. since 2014.
She was a lifelong learner, earning an associate degree in office management and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Youngstown State University, then furthered her education by earning a master’s degree in community counseling from the University of Akron and an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in school psychology from Kent State University. She held a variety of jobs, fulfilling a lifelong goal to give back to the Youngstown area and to help children when she became a school psychologist for the Youngstown City School District. She worked with kids at The Rayen School and then at East High School. Her office was always open to any student that needed a little help from Miss Donna.
Donna’s sweet and kind soul touched many people. She motivated, inspired, and guided many people through her gentle compassionate ways. Her greatest love was reserved for her family, “my people,” as she affectionately called them. Her nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews gave her special joy. She was an avid decorator and crafter, making every one of the many homes that she lived in very special places. She loved reading, watching a good romantic movie (Dirty Dancing anyone?), the smell and sounds of the beach, sushi, playing trivia (go Booze Hounds), the Michael Stanley Band and spending New Year’s Eve safely at home watching the Twilight Zone with Bill.
Donna is survived by her husband, Bill Miller of St. Augustine, Fla.; her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Lynne Richards of North Jackson; her brother-in-law, Ken Lobaugh of Santee, S.C.; nephew, Dan and Cindy McHale Richards of Girard; niece, Chris Richards and Bill Eckert of Etters, Pa.; niece, Sherrie Lobaugh Mellinger of Morrisville, N.C.; niece, Erica Lobaugh and Sunwook Jin of Cary, N.C.; niece, Lisa Williams and Jim Vick of Newton Falls; nephew, Mark Williams of Newton Falls; niece, Tara Williams and Scott Strain; along with 12 great-nieces and great-nephews, a great-great-niece and a great-great-nephew. She is also survived by Ellie, her loving pet and Bill’s angel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Betty; her sisters, Patty and Nancy; her brother-in-law, Ralph Williams; and nephew-in-law, Bryan Mellinger.
No service is planned.
In lieu of flowers, Donna asked for donations, in her name, to Legacy Dog Rescue, www.ldrofohio.org; Safe Pet Rescue, www.safe-pet-rescue-fl.com; Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, www.baptistmdanderson.com; or the Muscular Dystrophy Association, www.mda.org.
(special notice)