Beatrice Rafter Richards, a resident of Newfield House in Plymouth and long time resident of Duxbury, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2014.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert P. Richards and is survived by sons, Albert P. Richards, Jr. of Haleiwa, Hawaii and William C. Richards of Taunton, Massachusetts; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was born the youngest of seven siblings in Sharon, Massachusetts on January 2,1915 to John J. Rafter and Susan Fall Rafter. She was a graduate of Sharon High School. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Massachusetts State College in Amherst in 1936 and a Masters Degree in Biology from Boston University in 1937. In 1938, she married Albert P. Richards and joined him at William F. Clapp Laboratories as a research marine biologist. Upon his passing in 1963, she assumed the position of Director of Clapp Laboratories and a few years later successfully steered the merger of Clapp Laboratories with Battelle Memorial Institute, where she remained as a senior marine biologist until she retired in 1980. She was a recognized authority in the field of marine borers and wood preservation for all types of salt water structures, doing extensive research for the U.S. Government and private industry. Her professional memberships included The American Wood Preservers Association (a former director), and the Sea Horse Institute. In retirement, she travelled extensively and enjoyed golf, bridge and volunteer activities. She was a long time member of the Duxbury Yacht Club and of Pilgrim Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir.
Private graveside services for the family will be held at the Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Village at Duxbury, on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, starting at 11:00 AM. Family and friends are kindly invited.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Diabetes Research, American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, www.diabetes.org