Earl Francis Richter
August 07, 1924 - March 23, 2015
Obituary
Richter, Earl F.
MADISON-Earl F. Richter, age 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, March 23, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born on Aug. 7, 1924, in Clyman, Wis., to Frank R. Richter and Loretta (nee Simon) Richter. Earl graduated from Watertown High School on June 10, 1942. He proudly served his country in the United States Army in World War II from April 1943 to April 1946. Upon his return home from the service, Earl decided to pursue his goal of attending college to study chemistry, and he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Earl graduated with his degree in chemistry on June 15, 1951. He joined the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), now Covance, on Sept. 1, 1949, as a chemist, and enjoyed a highly successful career in chemistry and leadership. He served as Director of the Analytical Chemistry Department for Raltech, Hazleton, and Covance. Earl was invited to serve on peer review boards for the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and mentored numerous young chemists through the years. He retired in 1990, from the position that he loved, and he continued to follow the progress of the organization that he built with great interest over the years. While Earl was at WARF, he met and married Elizabeth Straub on Oct. 11, 1952, and they enjoyed 62 years of joyful marriage. They resided in Madison and had three daughters, Anne, Mary, and Meg. Earl enjoyed many interests, including wood working, spending time with and supporting his grandchildren, taking his grandsons pheasant hunting at Milford Hills Hunt Club, and reading action novels. In 2013, Earl took an unforgettable trip to Washington D.C. aboard the Badger Honor Flight, with his grandson, Michael and fellow World War II veterans. He was a devout Catholic and reverently participated in church services and loved to support Father Silva at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with leading the Rosary. Earl is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; three daughters, Anne Cooper, Mary (Thomas) Sullivan, and Meg (Scott) Allen; grandchildren, Patrick (Megan) Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Meg Sullivan, and Claire Allen; brother, Francis W.; and sister, Evelyn M. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Friday, March 27, 2015, with Father John Silva presiding. A private burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Earl’s name to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
Events
Mass of Christian Burial
Fri Mar 27, 2015 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Monona • 5101 Schofield St., Monona, WI 53716
Photos
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Memories
ST
Sherry Thomas-Cloud
Other •
Dear Anne and Family, I wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I know that your family is a very close one that will support one another at this difficult time. No amount of time seems like it's long enough when it comes to loseing a love one. I read your (husband) father's life story and although I never met him, he seems like a kind, educated and spiritual person that loved his family. It can't get any better than that! Take care of youself and may you find a way to keep his memory alive.
PF
pat fettig
Other •
rest in the peace earl, my prayer warrior-my good friend-I will miss you-I will continue to pray for you -and I ask you my prayer buddy-to pray for my family, that we may continue to persevere in reaching our final destination as beautifully as you did!! May you rest eternally in the presence of Jesus and Mary! pat fettig
CH
Catherine Henderson
Other •
Earl always had a smile and a hello for me. He will be missed dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rest in peace, Earl. Catherine Henderson, IHM
AN
Amy Nelson
Other •
I did not know Earl but I thought that his family and friends might like to know that his legacy lives on at his former workplace. At Covance this week this email was sent out to all 350 Madison employees by one of his former colleagues "One of the `fathers’ of our NCFS business, Earl Richter, passed away on Monday at the age of 90. Earl started here as a chemist in 1949 and developed or instituted many of our early test methods, including some that are still in use today (fluoride, choline are a couple such methods). Earl taught the value of quality to all of us who worked for him. He had a never-ending passion for perfection and expected no less from his employees, himself, and his bosses. Earl instilled a desire in all his employees to understand every aspect of any test they performed and often walked around the lab quizzing scientists about the test they were performing.
Earl built a great foundation for our business and much of our success is due to the principles that he established. He also carried this quality ideal to his activities with AOAC and fought battles to have AOAC maintain its reputation for quality. Earl was a pillar of our business." He will continue to have an influence in our work in Nutritional Chemistry and Food Safety.
MH
Mary Hoffman
Other •
Hi Mary,
You may remember me from St. Dennis. I remember your dad very well. He was always very kind and soft spoken. He was, I am sure, the perfect dad, grandfather and husband a family could ask for. May you be blessed in the days to come.
Mary Frederickson Hoffman
DS
Darryl Sullivan
Other •
Earl Richter gave me my first opportunity in the world of science. I worked for Earl for 12 years and during that time he taught me more than I had learned from any previous education or experience. Earl also introduced me to AOAC International, and I continue to be engaged there after 35 years. Earl was an "Icon" in the scientific community, and he will be missed. AOAC will be honoring Earl in their May publication of Inside Laboratory Management.
- Darryl Sullivan