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Ruth E. Zimmerman

Ruth E. Zimmerman, 86, the wife of the Rev. Gerald R. Zimmerman, retired, died from a massive stroke following a brief hospital stay, July 17, in Camp Hill, Pa.

She was a secretary to a Russian colonel and Navy captain during World War II while her husband was stationed in Washington, D.C., with the Navy. She retired after 12 years as medical secretary to the Maryland State Medical Examiner.

In 1993, the couple moved to Bethany Village, a United Methodist retirement home, where they lived at the time of her death.

Gerald Zimmerman, a second-career pastor, served Providence UMC in Baltimore from 1973, first as a local pastor then as an ordained Elder, until he retired in 1985. He also served Falls Road and Perry Hall UMCs. After retirement he spent several years at St. John of Hamilton UMC and at Towson UMC.

She was a member of Shiremanstown UMC in Shiremanstown, Pa., and on the Board of Directors of The Wesley in Gaithersburg.

Survivors include her husband of 66 years; two sons, Jeffrey Zimmerman of Severna Park and Jere Zimmerman of Boiling Springs, Pa.; five grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Condolences may be sent to Rev. Gerald Zimmerman, 325 Wesley Drive, Apt. 3211, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Care Assurance Fund at Bethany Village, 325 Wesley Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

Rev. Robert ?Bob? W. Richardson

The Rev. Robert ?Bob? W. Richardson, 79, a retired Elder, died after a long battle with leukemia July 16, in Frederick. A memorial service was held July 22, at the Homewood Retirement Center where he lived. Participating in the service were the Revs. Beverly Stang, chaplain; Kenneth Dunnington from Calvary UMC in Frederick; Carol Yokum, whom Richardson had mentored as a student; Julian Tavenner; and Edwin DeLong representing the bishop and district superintendent.

Richardson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the destroyer, U.S. Fennigan.

Richardson came to the Baltimore Conference in 1961, after serving churches in North Carolina, as an associate at Millian Memorial UMC in Rockville. He served Emory Grove UMC from 1969 to 1973 and spent the next five years at New Street UMC in Shepherdstown. In 1978 he moved to College Park UMC and in 1982 to Francis Asbury UMC in Rockville. From 1984 until his retirement in 1988, after 39 years as a United Methodist minister, he served Washington Square UMC in Hagerstown.

In his retirement years, Richardson enjoyed the outdoors, gardening at his home in Unionville and working on his daughter?s farm. After moving to Homewood Retirement Center in 2000, he took up a new hobby of painting, and ?was very good,? his wife said.

At his request, his body was contributed to the Anatomy Board of Maryland.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marlee Richardson; twin sons, James Richardson of Hedgesville, W. Va., and David Richardson of Culpeper, Va.; a daughter, Brenda Williams, of Climax, N.C.; and two grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Marlee Richardson, 7401 Willow Road, Homewood Apt. #252, Frederick, MD 21702.