Beryl J. Richie

Beryl Joanne Richie, 89, of Elysburg passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, hours after getting her final wish to learn the name and see a picture of her fourth great-grandchild being born on the same day.

Beryl was born on August 31, 1936, and was the daughter of the late Bruce and Adda (Stewart) Watkins. She graduated from Ralpho Township High School in 1954. Following graduation, she went on to work at Geisinger as a medical secretary in the Departments of Hematology and Oncology departments for 25 years.

She now joins her husband Lamar in Heaven after being married to him for 64 years. Lamar passed away in 2021.

Beryl was a member of the Elysburg Presbyterian Church where she served in a variety of roles over many decades. She was an avid supporter of the athletic programs at Southern Columbia Area School District.

Her final game on Earth that she listened to resulted in the SCA girls basketball team’s PIAA Class 2A Sweet 16 win, and her first game watching in Heaven was a victory in the Elite 8.

Beryl was all about having a routine. She was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and watched nearly every inning of every game. When it wasn’t baseball season, she watched her favorite television shows, most notably Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

Beryl was actively involved in the Relay for Life and served on the Ralpho Township election board. She also volunteered in various other capacities throughout her life.

She enjoyed solving puzzles, playing cards, and going to exercise classes in the years since her husband’s passing. Additionally, she was always up for a shopping trip with her daughter or grandson which usually ended with a stop at a restaurant to chatter about all the good in life.

More than anything, Beryl wanted to make sure that her family and friends were doing well. It was a rarity if she didn’t make multiple phone calls throughout the day to check in with everyone that she loved.

Beryl is survived by her son Doug Richie and daughter Beth (Richie) Fegley, both a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Beryl’s daughter Beth and son-in-law David Fegley reside in Elysburg and are the parents of her grandsons David and Brad. Brad is married to Ali (Pryor) Fegley, and they are the parents of Beryl’s newest great grandson Colter.

Beryl’s son Doug resides in Stroudsburg with his wife Kristin and are the parents of her granddaughters Lauren and Lyn. Lyn is married to Eric Feola, and they are the parents of Beryl’s great-grandchildren James, Annette, and Grant.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, April 17th in honor of Beryl and her husband Lamar who died while the pandemic was still a concern. The service will take place at the Elysburg Presbyterian Church at 6:00 PM with Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Heartworks in honor of Beryl’s great-granddaughter Annette. The website is: https://donate.heartworksinc.org/fundraiser/5094965 if you wish to donate. Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz III, Supervisor has been entrusted with the arrangements. To offer condolences, share photos or memories of Beryl with her family, please sign the guestbook below.

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