Obituaries

Arlene Susan RichardTeacher

Arlene Susan Richard, 52, a teacher for 19 years in Montgomery County public schools, died of cancer Oct. 29 at her home in Darnestown.

Mrs. Richard was born in the District and grew up in Rockville. She graduated from Charles W. Woodward High School in 1971. She attended college part time while working at a nursery school and raising her two daughters. She received her bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Maryland in 1984.

She began her career in Montgomery as a kindergarten teacher at College Gardens Elementary School in Rockville. She also taught first and third grades at College Gardens and at Jones Lane, Rosemont and Thurgood Marshall elementary schools in Gaithersburg.

In later years, she received a master's degree in early childhood education from Johns Hopkins University and a certification in art education.

A talented artist, she worked to incorporate art, music, physical activity and even cooking into an increasingly structured elementary-school curriculum. She taught art for two years at Sequoyah Elementary in Derwood and Monocacy Elementary in Dickerson before retiring in 2003 because of her illness.

Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Michael Richard of Darnestown; three children, Danielle Richard, Jessica Richard and Emily Richard, all of Darnestown; her father, Harold Marks of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and a sister, Beverly Pelzer of Silver Spring.

Valeria B. ReaseHomemaker, Volunteer

Valeria B. Rease, 89, a homemaker and volunteer, died of heart disease Nov. 28 at South River Health and Rehabilitation Center in Edgewater. She was a longtime District resident before moving to Annapolis in 2000.

Mrs. Rease was born in Duncan, Neb., and moved to the District with her husband in 1945. She worked briefly as a waitress before staying home to raise her children. She was a cafeteria volunteer at Saints Peter & Paul Elementary School in Easton, Md., where her grandchildren were students. She also was a baseball fan and loved the Baltimore Orioles.

Her husband, Irvin J. Rease, died in 1977.

Survivors include four children, Daniel P. Rease of Silver Spring, John R. Rease of Crownsville, Clifford J. Rease of Hyattsville and Lynette E. Stevenson of Easton; two sisters; a brother; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter.