CHILDREN REPRESENT FOURTH GENERATION OF THREE FAMILY LINES - Kathleen Richards, who will be one year old Sept. 28, and her brother, Robert, 2, can call on 339 years of experience from their great-grandparents alone if they have any questions needing "older heads." Left to right: (seated) Mrs. Augusta Richardson, 76, Mrs. Margaret Robinson of Buffalo, 82, holding Kathleen; Willis E. Coulter of South Ridge Road, 92, Mrs. Coulter, 89, holding Robert; (standing) Burt Richardson [52], Mrs. H. William Richards [27], Mrs. Burt Richardson [53], Mrs. William Richards [55], H. William Richards [28], William Richards [60]. Family lines, each leading to the children as the fourth generation are: Mrs. Augusta Richardson [gr-grandmother], Burt Richardson [grandfather], Mrs. H. William Richards [mother]; Mrs. Robinson [gr-grandmother], Mrs. Burt Richardson [grandmother], Mrs. H. William Richards [mother]; Mr. and Mrs. Coulter [gr-grandparents, Coulter Farms], Mrs. William H. Richards [grandmother], H. William Richards [father]. The group is gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Richards, [5350] Stone Road [built in 1830]. The children and their parents live in an apartment in the same house. (Edwards Photo)

note- Missing are 4 great-grandparents Gilbert Richardson (d. 1937), Mr. Robinson, John (d. 1940) and Elizabeth Richards (d. 1902).

✞Boyne, Gary J. (K2JYV) Nov 22, 2024 Of Kenmore, New York. Husband of 58 years to Judith M. (Dahn); dear father of Jennifer Boyne and Rebecca (Jere) Dolan; uncle of Rosanne and Debra. Friends may call Saturday, November 30th from 9-11 am at the DENGLER ROBERTS PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 3070 Delaware Ave., Kenmore where services will follow at 11am. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Gary's name may be made to Hospice Buffalo, Inc. Gary was born and raised in Lockport, New York, was a 70 year Ham Radio Operator (K2JYV), enjoyed wood working, painting and playing trumpet. 

✞Mary Boyne | Obituary | Lockport Union Sun Journal - Mary Ann Boyne passed away July 16, 2015, in Eastern Niagara Hospital, Lockport. Born in Mount Holly, NJ on February 3, 1940, she was the daughter of James T. and Amber F. (Lykens) Ryan, Sr.. Mary Ann was a Girl Scout leader, was a member of the Kenan Quilters Guild, and belonged to the T.O.P.S. Club, PTA, served as president of the Red Hat Ladies at Odd Fellow & Rebekah Health Care Center. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, and knitting. Mary Ann was predeceased by her husband Ronald Boyne in 2009. Mary Ann is survived by her two daughters, Rosanne (Frank) Stanley and Debra Boyne; grandmother of Elizabeth Stanley; sister of the late James T. Ryan, Jr., John J. Ryan and Catherine Benton; also survived by several nieces and nephews.. Relatives and friends may call Tuesday, July 21st from 2-4 and 7-9 PM in Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St., Lockport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, July 22nd at 10 AM in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 168 Chestnut St., Lockport. Memorial donations to the American Heart Association would be appreciated by the family.

✞Robert William Richardson Jr., 61, of Davidson, NC passed away peacefully embraced by his Family on April 11, 2022. Robert was born in High Point, NC on January 19, 1961 to Eileen M. Richardson and the late Robert W. Richardson Sr. Along with his father, he is preceded in death by his grandparents Charles and Mary McCarthy, and Burt and Marion Richardson.

He is survived by his wife Amanda, and two sons Hayden Richardson (Kimi) and Camden Richardson, the loves of his life; as well as his sisters Patricia Kidd (Russell) and Judy Richardson. He is also survived by his beloved nieces, nephews, special in-laws, and extended family.

Rob was a graduate of UNCC School of Architecture. He was a Principal Architect of the RBA group, located in Charlotte, where he was affectionately revered as the “Silver Fox”. He became well respected for his integrity and work ethic over his 35 years as a professional. Balanced in Faith, Love, and value, Rob founded a strong Family life, pursued service in the community, and laughed with Family, friends, and coworkers alike. He treasured spending time on Lake Tillery, and he enjoyed fly fishing in the mountains. A teacher of the good times, and someone to lean on in the bad, Rob was caring, intentional, selfless, and present with his Life. He wore many hats – family man, outdoorsman, craftsman, ball caps, and hard hats. No matter the hat, his authentic, welcoming, fun-loving character was always on display. For that, and much more, he will be missed with sincerity, and he will be remembered with smiles.

The funeral service and visitation will be held at Davidson United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 23rd, at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

✞David John Raetz, 80, from Alexandria Bay, NY, North Fort Myers, FL and Lockport, NY, passed away from a brief illness on May 1, 2024. Dave was born in Appleton, NY on July 11, 1943. He was a graduate of Barker, NY Central High School where he was his class valedictorian. Dave went on to obtain a degree in accounting from Alfred State College. He worked his entire career as an accountant for Harrison Radiator in Lockport, NY and for the General Motors Corporation in Lake Orion, MI.

Dave was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather. Dave enjoyed fishing, woodworking, NASCAR racing, and performing home auto repairs. Dave was a lifelong member of the Lockport Elks Club and was a Past Exalted Ruler. He spent many decades at the family summer residence in Alexandria Bay, NY in the 1000 Islands region. He loved boating and fishing on the St. Lawrence River. He was an active figure in his sons' lives, participating in Boy Scouts, coaching baseball, and showing them how to fish and water ski. He is going to be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Dave was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Sonja Simons Raetz, and by his parents William and Florence Raetz. He is survived by his two sons, Dr. Randy G. Raetz (Allen Erway) and Gregory D. Raetz; two grandsons, Spencer G. Raetz-Erway and Cooper J. Raetz-Erway; a brother Walter Raetz; his devoted companion of many years Mary Lou Voelker, and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Thursday, May 30th from 4-7 pm at Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee Street, Lockport NY. Dave was a lifelong lover of his dogs. Memorials in Dave's name may be made to Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450 and would be greatly appreciated by the family. A memorial service will immediately follow at 7 pm on Thursday in the funeral home.

*** Woman killed after crash on Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills - Author By John Turk - UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 8:29 AM EST - After a comment surfaced online surrounding what may have happened in the seconds before Sonja Raetz’ death in a recent Bloomfield Hills traffic accident, the Lake Orion woman’s family is asking for answers. “She was always a cautious driver,” said Raetz’ niece, Sheri Brounscheidel, responding to preliminary reports that stated it appeared Raetz pulled into oncoming traffic in the Tuesday accident. Raetz, a Lake Orion resident and native of western New York state, died almost suddenly after being hit by a “Chevrolet Tahoe traveling southbound on Woodward Avenue, south of Long Lake Road,” said Bloomfield Hills Police Chief David Hendrickson. “Ms. Raetz cut across all lanes of traffic in an attempt to reach the turnaround for northbound Woodward, but before (she) could reach the turnaround she was struck in the driver’s door by a vehicle traveling south on Woodward.” She was pronounced dead about half an hour after the 3:30 p.m. accident. An anonymous comment on the story’s online posting claim that the driver of the white Tahoe that collided with the 66-year-old’s Impala had run a red light. Initial witness statements to police did not mention a red light.

“A friend of mine was an eye witness to this accident and said the driver of the tahoe clearly ran the red light. The driver who was killed didn’t have a chance to react,” tylocal11, an anonymous commenter, wrote, a day after the accident. “He and another eye witness went up to the attending officer and advised them what they saw.” When Sonja’s family saw the comment, they were shocked. Her son, Randy Raetz, of Rochester, New York, said she was the type of person who would look “15 times before she went into the road.”

Her niece, Brounscheidel, said it made her feel worse than when she first found out about her aunt’s death. “I went from thinking that she died in an out-and-out accident — and I was going to be OK with that — until I read the comments,” said Brounscheidel, 49, who lives in Appleton, New York. “Now people are … making me think differently, that somebody may have done this to my aunt.” Brounscheidel wants police to “get to the bottom of this. … The unknown is very difficult to deal with.” Hendrickson, the police chief, said Thursday that he was at the scene of the fatal crash earlier this week. “Our officers heard no mention of the (Tahoe) running a red light,” Hendrickson said. “However, we are still investigating the incident, and ask that if there are some witnesses out there who may have seen some thing like this happen, they come forward.” Hendrickson said he talked to one of the witnesses who was driving behind the Tahoe before the crash. “He didn’t mention anything about the Tahoe running the red light,” said the chief.

Sonja leaves behind a husband, David, and two sons, Randy and Gregory. She comes from a fairly small, closely knit family, said Brounscheidel. She and her husband, who had been married 48 years, own a summer home at the Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River in New York, as do many members of her family, including her niece. “We were all going to be spending a week and a half there for the week after July 4,” said Brounscheidel through tears. Sonja’s hobbies included needlework and crafting. She was a “very jovial person who liked being with her friends and family,” Brounscheidel said. She also enjoyed reading, remembered her son. “She was an avid reader. Her favorite genre was romance, and she read around four books a week,” said Randy Raetz. A memorial service for Sonja Raetz will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, located at 1550 Walton Blvd. in Rochester Hills. Afterwards, her body will be taken to her hometown of Lockport, New York, for viewing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the Tuesday accident is encouraged to call the Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Department at 248-644-4200. Staff writer John Turk covers the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, police and general assignment. He can be reached at 248-745-4613. Originally Published: June 26, 2013 at 10:44 AM EST