Julia Irwin Richter

Julia Ann Irwin Richter passed away peacefully surrounded by love at her home in Fishers, Indiana, on November 15, 2024. Her life came full circle when she left the world on the date she entered it - her 81st birthday. Julia lived a precious life between the arc of her birth and death. She was born in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1943, to Edna Prater Irwin and John P. Irwin. She was their only child. Edna was the Head Administrative Assistant to the Air Adjutant General at the Pentagon, and John was a Staff Sergeant at the White House. He worked as a United States Secret Service agent during WWII and protected Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and her family when they were granted asylum in the United States. Julia Ann Irwin was named after Queen Juliana.

After the end of the war, Julia and her parents moved to Ohio while her father finished college on the GI bill at Miami University of Ohio. The family lived in Portsmouth, Ohio, during Julia’s school years. One of the highlights and joys of her youth were the eight summers she spent as a camper and counselor at Four-Way Lodge, a camp for girls, located on Torch Lake in Michigan. These camp experiences introduced her to the water sports of canoeing and sailing and planted the seed for the camp she would co-found decades later, Camp Delafield for Children.

Julia was a proud graduate of the Portsmouth High School Class of 1961. She graduated from Hanover College in 1965. Attending Hanover was life-changing for Julie. She met her future husband, Jim Richter, became a member of Phi Mu sorority and gained a house full of sorority sisters, and earned her B.A. degree. Julie and Jim married in 1966 and settled in the Indianapolis area. She taught at Creston Junior High School in Warren Township. She continued her education with graduate studies at the University of Indianapolis, earning her M.A. degree in history, and she had many hours of post-graduate study at Butler University. She worked as an Orton Gillingham tutor, and later as an Orton Gillingham course coordinator and master teacher at Butler University for 16 summers. The highlight and capstone of her career as an educator was her 20 years as a learning support teacher at The Orchard School. She retired from Orchard in 2015. Her teaching career and passion for education brought her great joy and helped countless children and adults.

Julie was active in her community. She was one of the founders of the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana and Camp Delafield for Children. She served as Interim Executive Director and Board Chair of the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana and most recently as Board Emeritus. Julie served as Vice-President and President of the International Dyslexia Association Indiana Branch. She was a founder of the International Dyslexia Association Indiana State Conference and served as chair for 20 years. She was awarded the International Dyslexia Association Indiana Excellence in Education Award in 1993 and the International Dyslexia Association Indiana Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Julie was honored to receive a Hanover College Alumni Achievement Award in 2017, the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, and The Orchard School Community Service Award in 2019. She served on the Fortune Academy board for many years. Julie was a founder of the Conner Prairie Alliance and the Apple Store at Conner Prairie. It was her idea to serve apple cider slushies at The Apple Store, and they have been a hit since it opened! She was a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, a 50 year member of the Junior League of Indianapolis, and a 50 year member of Noblesville First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for 25 years. Julie and Jim were active members of the Indianapolis Sailing Club and raced sailboats together for 30 years. They won the Indiana State Snipe Championship three times.

Julie was thankful for her decades of Bible study meetings and friendships with the ladies of the Monday Group. Her Phi Mu sorority sisters, members of the Orchard Book Club, the Connerwood Book Club, and the Connerwood Art Group were also dear to Julie. She was an avid reader, an artist, and a gifted writer. She collected quotes and wrote beautiful haiku poetry that she often shared with family and friends in cards and letters.

Julie cherished her family. She was a loving wife, mother, and Nana. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, James “Jim” Arthur Richter, daughter Krista Ann Richter, son James “Jamey” Irwin Richter (Stacie Hertenstein), grandchildren Nikhil Richter, Zoei Richter, Myles Hertenstein (Jessica), Taia Hertenstein Perkins (Holden) and Owen Hertenstein, sisters-in-law Kay Richter, Judy Dass (Al) and Marcia Richter, nieces Jennifer Richter, Lindsay Kookoothe (Chris), Jessica Downs (Lucas), grand-niece Luna Richter, and grand-nephews Henry Kookoothe, Milo Downs, and Teddy Downs.

She is predeceased by her parents, Edna Prater Irwin and John P. Irwin, her father-in-law Dr. Arthur B. Richter, mother-in-law Lyda Mary Richter, sister-in-law Dr. Mary Alex Richter, and brother-in-law Thomas R. Richter.

Julie fought to stay in the land of living as she battled a long, challenging illness with courage, determination, and strength. She held on to her faith. She was grateful to spend the last 10 months of her life at her beautiful home of 52 years in Fishers, and appreciated the memories and moments she shared with her family, friends, and Connerwood neighbors. Julie’s family would like to thank her private duty nurses Carrie Jones, Jill Ross, Amy Fitzpatrick and the team at Indy Concierge Health, caregivers Dollie Smith, Patricia Kruger, Bryonne Wright and the team at Senior Home Companions, and her hospice nurse, Holly Galan and team at IU Health Hospice.

A visitation and celebration of life service will be held for Julie on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument Street, Noblesville, IN 46060. Visitation is from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the chapel, with the service immediately following at 1:00 PM in the sanctuary. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the Richter Family has requested that donations may be made to the Julia Irwin Richter Educational Fund. Donation checks should be written to the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana with the name of her fund listed on the memo line and mailed to: The Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, Attention: Julia Irwin Richter Educational Fund, 8395 Keystone Crossing, Suite 350, Indianapolis, IN 46240. For information about how to donate online, call the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana office at 317-222-6635.

Julie’s legacy of love and learning live on through her family, work, students, and everyone she helped. She is forever in our hearts.

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