Constance H. Richards, 86, served on civic boards...

Constance H. Richards, 86, served on civic boards

Constance Hollingsworth Babcock Richards, a homemaker who was active in community affairs, died in her sleep Wednesday at Roland Park Place. She was 86.

The former 57-year Roland Avenue resident had lived at the retirement community since 1997.

For many years, Mrs. Richards served on the Women's Board of the Baltimore Museum of Art, where she helped to establish the first Museum Ball, which became an annual fund-raiser. She also was a member of the board of the Children's Aid Society, where she inaugurated the organization's Orchid Ball.

She served on the Maryland Institute, College of Art board and was appointed by then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer to the board that oversaw operations of the Baltimore Civic Center. She also was a volunteer with the Urban League.

Born Constance Hollingsworth Babcock in Boston, she was raised on a farm in Harvard, Mass. She was educated at Miss Porter's, a Connecticut private school.

In 1936, she married Warren Richards, who died in 1997.

She had been a member of the Elkridge Club and the Women's Hamilton Street Club.

A memorial service is being planned.

She is survived by two daughters, Constance H. Richards of Pembroke, Maine, and Pauline R. Babcock of San Francisco; a grandson; and a nephew.

Laura A. Thompson, 41, elementary school teacher

Laura A. Thompson, a retired teacher who worked in Baltimore City public schools, died Tuesday of undetermined causes at Union Memorial Hospital. She was 41 and lived in Essex.

Mrs. Thompson taught in city public elementary schools from 1988 until retiring on a medical disability two years ago.

Born Laura A. Hart, she was raised in the Eastwood section of Baltimore County and was a 1978 graduate of Dundalk High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1985 from Morgan State University and a master's degree in early childhood development from Coppin State College in 1987.

She was an active member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the National Albinism Association.

Her first marriage to Edward Oster Jr. ended in divorce.

She was a member of Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Road, where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 11.

Her mother, Eleanor Baldwin Hart, died in 1991.

She is survived by her husband of 14 years, William B. Thompson; a son, Christopher Oster of Essex; a daughter, Amanda Thompson of Essex; her father, Elmer A. D. Hart of Overlea; a brother, Barry M. Hart of Ellicott City; and a sister, Maureen Baer of Baltimore.