Margaret K. Richards, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2009, at the St. Barnabas Hospice at Monmouth Medical Center surrounded by her family. A resident of West Long Branch since 1946, she was predeceased by the love of her life, Captain Gilbert H. Richards, Jr., U.S.N. (1911-1983). She is survived by her son, Gilbert H. Richards III and his wife Dr. Karen Vandersloot Richards, Collinsville, Conn.; her daughter, Lynn Steneck and her husband, George, WLB; her son, Bruce Paul Richards and his wife Leslie Clark Richards, Newbury, Vt.; her grandchildren, Geoffrey Steneck, Cathy Steneck Musselman, Kristen Richards Roger, Gilbert H. Richards IV, Ryan Orion Richards, Alyson Halley Richards; and six great-grandchildren, Anthony D. Steneck, Alex D. Steneck, David J. Musselman Jr., Patrick H. Musselman, Isabelle C. Richards and Abigail S. Richards. Margaret, or 'Peg' as she was affectionately known was born in Philadelphia on September 11, 1915, to Captain Paul Kuter (U.S.N.) and Rebecca Corbett. Her first memory was of the celebrations that ended World War I. She spent time in her early childhood in the brand new Panama Canal Zone with her Navy family. As a teenager she drove her mother and younger sister across the rough roads and desert nights from the East Coast to meet her father whose ship was in San Diego. In 1936 Peg married the love of her life, recent Annapolis graduate, Gilbert. Margaret was a devoted Navy wife before and during WW II, following her husband's ports of call up and down the East and West Coasts as well as Trinidad and Curacao while he moved up the ranks to command two different Navy destroyers. She traveled with her two small children and pet dog living in temporary housing for the duration of the war. After her husband's retirement from the Navy, they built their own home in West Long Branch in 1947 and raised three children. Peg was the anchor of the home using her great stores of energy and love, selflessly providing for everybody around her. It seemed she was always cooking, or repainting the house. Gil never knew what color the house was going to be when he came home from work and would warn his children not to sit still or Mom might paint them too. She made the little house on Brookwillow Avenue a home away from home for whomever needed one. 'Tranquility Ranch' Gil ironically called it. Peg's favorite quote was, 'Never a dull moment,' and in fact these were among her last words to her younger son this week. She went from being the consummate mom to being the consummate grandmom. When she and Gil retired, they spent time on their sailboat and motor home, spending winters in Florida where Peg loved golf and surf fishing. But most of all they loved to be with their family. Always there for all of us, in a real way our lives are testimonials to the great soul of Peg Richards. There will be no visiting hours or funeral service. A private interment service will take place in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Those wishing to remember her may make contributions to the Old First United Methodist Church, 197 Locust Avenue, West Long Branch.You may light a candle of remembrance on the opposite page.