Dorthy Ella (Holton) Richards, 79, of Emmaus, died Jan. 8, 2017, at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest. She was the wife of the late Ronald Richards, who died in 2013. Born in Racine, Wis., she was the daughter of the late Elmer D. and Maude (Curnow) Holton and the late Charles and Estelle Geyer.

She graduated from Washington Parks High School.

She is survived by five daughters, Gail and her husband Wayne Phillips, of New Tripoli, Carol and her husband Charles Brown, of Zionsville, Shari and her husband Mark Weinsheimer, of Ephrata, Susan Wentz, of Summit Hill, Barbra and her husband James Stephens, of Middletown, Del.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister Charlene (Holton) Moorehead, of San Diego, Calif.; stepsister Joan (Geyer) Nikolai; stepbrother Warren Geyer, both of Wisconsin. She was predeceased by brothers Charles Holton and Robert Holton, both of Racine, Wis.

Arrangements were made by the Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Emmaus.