HUBBARD Muriel Jean Rickard, 81, of Hubbard, died Wednesday evening, September 14, 2005, of complications of diabetes and renal disease.

She was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Wick, Pa., a daughter of Herbert J. and Ina Helen Coursen Ritenour. She moved to Hubbard when she was 2, and lived there until moving to her daughter's Youngstown home in December. She and her husband, the late William M., also wintered in Dade City, Fla., for 10 years, through 1999, where they made many friends from around the world.

A 1943 graduate of Hubbard High School, she worked for the Erie Railroad, in Sharon, downtown Youngstown, and Hubbard, several years until she was married, at a time when rails were the common form of passenger transportation between Youngstown and Cleveland. She later was a ward clerk at Northside Hospital for several years, then retired from Strouss' in downtown Youngstown, where she worked for 10 years in the china and glass department.

She was an avid golfer, a 20 year volunteer at the PGA Golf Tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron, an accomplished seamstress and knitter, and after retirement became an accomplished artist and doll maker, and showered friends and family with gifts of her talents. She bore a great love for animals and rescued and provided a home for dozens over her lifetime.

She was a 72-year member of First United Methodist Church, a member of the Ex-POWs of the Mahoning Valley, and a former member of the Women's Golf League of Hubbard and Hubbard Optimisses.

Her husband, William M., whom she married July 7, 1945, shortly after his release from a German prisoner of war camp at the conclusion of World War 11, died Oct. 10, 1998.

She leaves two sons, Herbert J. and his wife Barbara A. of Poland and William S. and his wife Susan Quinn of Rock, Kan.; a daughter, Cynthia Rickard, Vindicator regional editor, and devoted caregiver Lisa Solley of Youngstown; former son-in-law, Bertram de Souza, Vindicator columnist, of Youngstown; two sisters, Marjorie Pishkur of Mars, Pa., and Patricia Strachan of Hubbard; four grandchildren, Nicole (Rickard) Algaier of Columbus, H. Joel Rickard of Cleveland, and Collin and Chelsea Quinn of Kansas; a great-granddaughter, Aubrey Kylie Algaier of Columbus; three nieces, Shirley (Pishkur) Ferrand of Columbiana, Debbie (Strachan) Schosser of Hermitage, PA and Nancy (Pishkur) Mezey of Mars; a nephew, Robert Strachan of Hubbard; eight great-nieces and nephews, and five great-great-nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kelley-Robb Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Contributions may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County.

To view this obituary and to send condolences to the family, please visit www.kelley-robb.com

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