Gale Richardson Runowicz passed from this life on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 9:20pm at United Methodist Communities in Pitman, NJ. She was just a few miles from her home at Aquarius Farms, Franklinville, NJ, where she raised goats, until her retirement in 2020, and lived independently until days before her death. Gale is greatly loved, missed, and admired by her children, brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, and all their partners; all those in her large and extended family; her neighbors and friends; and so many in the goat and small farms community of south NJ. Gale was a life force, an energetic and learned woman with experiences, expertise and skills in many areas. Many, many! Listing the Top Ten, and in alphabetical order so as not to favor: Astrology and religious studies; baking, cooking and canning; dance and the arts; farm animal care and breeding (goats, rabbits); international travel; knitting, sewing and needle arts; literature, history and film; nutrition and wellness; plant and flower farming and cultivation; and rock and classical music. The list goes on and on. Gale spent almost her whole life in and around southern NJ but she was born on March 7, 1934 in Ottawa, ILL to Hubert Osbourn and Helen Patricia (Hersey) Richardson. Gale’s father, known to all as Rich, was a lifetime employee of DuPont and the family spent the WWII years in the Midwest; eventually they settled in Gibbstown, NJ. Gale, along with her three siblings Joy, Mark and Bill, spent most of her childhood reading, participating in 4H, and learning to dance. As an adult, Gale lived in Philadelphia, Detroit and NYC and later traveled the world with Elder Hostel, but she deeply loved this region of the Garden State and, especially, the beaches at Ocean City, NJ. Gale obtained a BA from Chesnut Hill College and an MS in Library Science from Drexel University. Gale’s greatest passion was her twenty years spent as ballet and modern dancer, training and performing in Philadelphia and New York City. Later, she taught dance for many years in Haddonfield, NJ. In 1967, her equally productive and remarkable time with farming began, when she moved, with her then husband and the father of her children, Victor Runowicz (d. 2020), to Franklinville. She eventually operated the farm independently and knew great success in the region through her work as a champion goat breeder and expert. Gale’s four children, daughter Victoria and sons Mark, John and Chris, express their thanks and gratitude to our family and friends who have, over the last difficult year, and so many good years before that, been part of Gale’s memorable and long life. In honor of his mother, Chris has created Gale Park on his property in Nashville, TN. Gale loved baked goods, desserts, candy, ice cream and chocolate. In honor of her sweet tooth and long and memorable life, please join Gale’s family for a Sweet Gale Celebration on Saturday, July 2, 2022, 2 – 4pm at Franklin Township Community Center, 1584 Coles Mill Road, Franklinville, NJ 08322. Cards for the family may be mailed to 957 Porchtown Road, Franklinville, NJ 08322. Donations in Gale’s memory may be made to Heifer International or a charity of your choosing.
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