Doris Jean Seibold

Doris Jean Seibold died peacefully in her home May 23, 2023, surrounded by love and her family. Doris was born April 6, 1930 in Jackson, Michigan to George Edward and Grace Elizabeth (Nelson) Rubert. She was an only child and from an early age asserted that she wanted a big family, prophetically saying seven children. Her life and plans were challenged early at age 16 with bone cancer from which she was cured with innovative radical surgery that saved her leg. In 1949 while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan she married her high school sweetheart, James Burton Richter. In six years in college with two additional reconstructive surgeries and her first two sons she graduated with a degree in elementary education. There was no complaint about going to class with crutches or carrying an infant.  After she and her husband graduated, she was able to be a full-time homemaker and had two more boys. They moved to Corpus Christi in 1960.  She started teaching in 1963 when her youngest began elementary school. She would teach first and second grades for many years, touching hundreds of young lives with her kind and loving manner. It was remarkable the frequency that her students would come visit many years later to tell her she was still their favorite. 

Her first marriage ended in 1965. In 1968, she married the love of her life, Edward D. Seibold, an analytic chemist. They were inseparable for 36 years until Ed’s death. They lived in love and happiness in a house designed by her son and daughter-in-law. They were active in Parkway Presbyterian Church. After retirement they volunteered together at Spohn Hospital. They had many friends in Corpus Christi, loved to travel, and rarely missed an important event in their grandchildren’s lives. Doris taught kindness and acceptance with clear gentle words and an unambiguous personal example.

She is survived by her sons James M. Richter (Claudia), a Boston MD; David R. Richter (Elizabeth), a Corpus Christi architect; Daniel T. Richter (Trisha), a Corpus Christi engineer and businessman; and Brian E. Richter (Julie), an independent geologist in Denver, and her stepdaughter Cynthia S. Seeman, a retired Houston businesswoman. She was predeceased by husband Edward D. Seibold, stepsons Robert E. Seibold (Karen) and Daniel N. Seibold (Denise). She has twelve grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren in whom she took great joy. Her last outing before her passing was to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family at church and then go shopping for Christmas presents for her great-grandchildren.

The family extends deep appreciation to all those who provided loving care and kindness to Doris during her final years. There will be a service to remember and celebrate her life on Saturday June 17 at 11:00 am at the Parkway Presbyterian Church with an internment to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the College of Education Fund in Memory of Doris J. Seibold at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi or to the Coastal Bend Food Bank.

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