Lynnea Marie Wilkerson Richards

Lynnea Marie Richards, age 74, died at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, on June 25, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Joe, and her beloved cat, Lady.

Lynnea spent her early years in Indian Head, Maryland, and attended Lackey High School, graduating in 1968. After graduation, she attended Frostburg State Teachers College, majoring in elementary education. She began her career as an educator at Nanjemoy Elementary School in Charles County, Maryland. While attending graduate school at George Washington University, she met her future husband, Joe, whom she always referred to as “the love of my life.” They were married May 28, 1977, in Indian Head, Maryland.

Lynnea and Joe’s first year of marriage was spent in Valley Lee, Maryland. Joe taught English at Chopticon High School, and Lynnea worked at Glasva Elementary School in Charles County, fulfilling the roles of teacher, director of the gifted and talented program, and eventually moving into administration.

They moved to LaPlata, Maryland, where Lynnea continued her career at Glasva, and Joe returned to his former position as middle school English teacher in Prince George's County.

In 1985, they moved to Hagerstown, Maryland. Joe commuted daily for two years to his teaching position in Prince George's County, until he was hired to teach language arts at E. Russell Hicks Middle School. Meanwhile, Lynnea continued as assistant principal at Glasva, living in Indian Head with her parents until she was offered a position as assistant principal at Walkersville Elementary School in Frederick County.

She was then transferred to Middletown Elementary School as assistant principal. After two years, she was moved back to Walkersville as principal. Lynnea became an expert in special education, since Walkersville was an inclusion school, complete with elevators and ramps to accommodate crutches and wheelchairs. She became adept at handling the many special education advocates and visitors from the Frederick county board of education that were in the school on an almost daily basis.

When the work began taking an emotional toll on her, Lynnea requested a transfer to a smaller school and was assigned the principalship of Wolfsville Elementary School. Here she would stay until her retirement ln 2012.

After her retirement, Lynnea enjoyed breakfast, luncheon, and dinner dates with her dear friends Karen Spessard, Judy Routzahn, Donna Smith, Suzanne O’Toole, and her cousin, Edwina Johnson. She collected western themed romance novels, most of which she read at least once. She was a dedicated contributor to many charitable organizations, and she was a royalist to the very end, following closely the many intrigues of the British Royal Family, especially William and Kate. After her cancer diagnosis, Lynnea preferred staying at home with her husband, her cat, and her books.

On Lynnea's behalf, and per her request, please consider making a donation to: Humane Society of Washington County, 13011 Maugansville Rd, Hagerstown, MD 21740.