Louis Foster Rickard of Cherry Ridge, PA died Saturday morning at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, PA. He was 96.

His wife of 62 years, Jean MacKenzie Rickard, died this past Mother’s Day.

Born November 16, 1914, in the Cherry Ridge Township farm house in which he resided all of his life, he was the son of the late William Rickard and Agatha Foster Rickard.

He was a life-long Wayne County dairy farmer. In 1929, Mr. Rickard opened Rickard’s Cider Mill, in operation for 80 years, still operated by tractor power. His wife, children, and many of his grandchildren worked side by side with him in this endeavor. He delighted in news of his grandchildren and sharing stories of deer, turkey hunting and fishing. He was a charter member of the Wallerville Hunting Club in Equinunk, PA, and a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Honesdale.

Mr. Rickard is survived by sons Louis F. Rickard Jr. and wife Virginia, Moscow, PA; Robert B. Rickard and wife Inez and Richard W. Rickard and wife Larissa, all of Cherry Ridge; daughters Susan R. Henry and husband Richard of Beach Lake, PA and Nancy R. Kinsman and husband George of Honesdale; grandchildren Jason Rickard, Christopher Rickard, Dale Rickard and Cheyenne Rickard, all of Cherry Ridge, Malena Kinsman of Philadelphia; Robert Kinsman and Casey Kinsman, both of State College, Brendan McDonough and wife Sarah of Boston; Lucie F. Henry, Scranton, and Dorie Henry and MacKenzie Henry of Beach Lake; and one great grandchild.

Mr. Rickard was the last surviving child of nine brothers and sisters. He is preceded in death by brothers and sisters Urban, Clarence, William, John, Robert, Carl, Esther and Sadie.

The Rickard Family will receive friends at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 107 Seventh Street, Honesdale, Friday, September 23, from 10 to 11 a.m., with a memorial service at the church immediately thereafter. The Reverend Kenneth Buckwalter will officiate. Mr. Rickard will be interred at Darling Cemetery, Cherry Ridge, overlooking the family farm.

Contributions may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Honesdale. Visit www.hesslingfuneralhome.com.