Donna Lois Richards

DONNA  LOIS  RICHARDS,  76

Donna Lois Richards of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021 at AdventHealth Lake Wales.

Donna was born January 5, 1945 in Altoona, PA to the late David and Grace Richards; she relocated here from Miami after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. She became the first licensed female contractor in the County of Miami-Dade, FL in the early 1970’s. Donna was an avid yard saler, she could never pass up a deal. She loved her family, most of all her children, grandchildren and sisters. Donna was known for the immense love she showed her dogs, Slick & Marbles. She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, always wanted to help others and was the true definition of a giver. Donna’s proudest accomplishment was raising her grandson, JC, as her own son.

Donna was preceded in death by her infant son, Carol Earl Sheppard and two sisters, Shirley Begalke and Linda Rader. Survivors include her daughter, Grace Foster of Winter Haven; son, JC Gonzalez of Lake Wales; sisters, Patty Boyd of Delaware, Judy Sheppard of Lake Wales, Bonnie Brown of Lake Wales and Reba Brown of Clayton, GA; five grandchildren, Juan “Junior” Gonzalez, Dallas Sheppard, Cody Reitman, Dylan Foster and Faith Foster; and fourteen great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Carlos, Kenzie, Kayla, Jewels, Eli, Bryce, Knox, Atlas, Dom, Gabe, Denver, Allison, & Kayden.

Celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Robert & C.E. Sheppard Memorial Park on Lake Walk-In-Water; 2227 Lake Front Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33898.