Dana Louise Richardson Wichern (Platt) passed away at home on September 26, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. The daughter of Dan and Gertrude Sparkman Richardson, she was born in Connersville, Indiana on May 21, 1938. Fort Wayne became her beloved hometown following graduation from Indiana University/Bloomington and a two-year English teaching stint at North Kingston, Rhode Island. Her career in public education included teaching English at North Side and Northrop High Schools. She served as Assistant to the Principal at North Side and as Assistant Director of Anthis Career Center before moving to Grile Administrative Center for ten years as Director of Community and Information Services. She also taught Composition and Creative Writing at Indiana University/FW and served as advisor for the university literary magazine. Professionally, she served as president of the Indiana Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association where she earned the Outstanding Leadership Service Award. She was named Outstanding Educator of the Year by Ball State University for her work in school public relations. Dana wrote a weekly column for ten years in the News Sentinel on current concerns in public education. She was also a frequent guest columnist on a variety of topics in addition to having articles published in various national professional journals.

Community service was a priority. She served on boards for many child-centered organizations including Metro YMCA, Girl Scouts, and others. She served as president of both the Quest Club and ARCH (historic preservation), secretary of The History Center, Plymouth Church executive council and was a member of the Scottish Rite Association that supported research for children with dyslexia. Dana was the editor of the book, Mastodons on Parade, a community art project in which she was a task force member. She also served on the City's Bicentennial Celebration task force.

Dana loved travel and visited over 29 countries in her lifetime with her favorites being: Italy, India, Spain, Iceland, and the Bahamas. Most recently, her book, Annotated Haiku and Haiga, was published. She was a lover of art, architecture, and the written word. She appreciated a well-designed chair, playing the ukulele, and meeting friends for meatloaf on Mondays at Henry's. Time spent on Winona Lake and in her home surrounded by family and friends were the best of times. She was determined and adventurous. She backpacked a 50 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail twice in her life, rode an elephant in India, snorkeled in the Bahamas and viewed the Northern Lights atop a glacier in Alaska. She greatly valued and appreciated the relationships she shared with many beloved former students whom she kept in contact with for decades.

She is survived by her daughters, Angela King (Dominick McCann), Wendy Wichern (Shawn Eckelbarger), and her loving blended family including sons, Jay Platt (Bobbie), Michael Platt (Julie), daughter Robin Stellhorn (Doug), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church (501 W. Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802) with visitation beginning at 12:30 pm until the time of service. Gathering for food and fellowship will begin after the service until 5:00 pm.

Preferred memorials include BookStart, a charity cofounded by Dana, that provides books for impoverished local children. Donations for BookStart can be sent to the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. Other memorials include Plymouth Congregational Church or Acres Land Trust.