Vernon Obituary: Dorothy Blythe, 91

Dorothy (Bickford) Blythe, 91, of Vernon, beloved wife of 61 years to the late George Blythe, passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Dorothy was born in Crystal, New Hampshire on September 20, 1926 to Vernon and Beatrice (Weagle) Bickford. She was raised in Crystal, NH where she attended and graduated from a little one-room schoolhouse. Following graduation from Groveton, NH High School she attended and graduated from Northampton Commercial College in Northampton, MA and subsequently earned an Associate Degree from Manchester Community College in Manchester.

Dorothy was retired from the East Hartford Board of Education where she had gone to work after her daughters were grown. Prior to working at the Board of Education she worked part time for many years at Norm’s Sheet Metal Shop and for a short time at Keebler Cookie branch office.

Dorothy’s family was her greatest joy and, in the years, when the girls were very young she enjoyed many family camping trips. After retirement Dorothy took several trips out West with her sister and daughter Gail, a trip to London with her sister, as well as a number of Elderhostel trips with her husband. She enjoyed sewing, reading, puzzles and Scrabble and was active in the Vernon United Methodist Church.

Dorothy volunteered several years with Vernon READS, was a Literacy Program Volunteer, FISH volunteer, and served as a Girl Scout Leader while her daughters were in Girl Scouts. She worked at United Aircraft in East Hartford for several years prior to her marriage to George. They moved to Vernon, where they bought a home, became members of the Vernon United Methodist Church, and raised their three precious daughters.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Gail Blythe, Ferne McAllister and her husband Paul, and Jean Blythe; three grandchildren, Michael McAllister and his wife Kristine, and Nick and Mali McAllister; a cousin, Beverly McFarland; a sister-in-law, Joyce Valerie; nieces, Donna Card, Leslie Hausen, and Nancy Santorso; a nephew Robert Valerie, and their families; dear friends, Edward and Mary Anderson, Jeanette Fletcher, Myrna Sawyer, Pat Haag, Gerry Kelly, Kenneth Klein, and Greg Schultz. She was also predeceased by her beloved sister, Lorraine Crowder; a cousin Roma McGuire, and dear friends, Peg Burgess, Maureen Anderson, Dorothy Klein, and Kenneth and Julie Hall.

Her family will receive friends for calling hours on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road (Route 83), Vernon. A memorial service will be held at the Vernon United Methodist Church, 401 Hartford Turnpike (Route 30), Vernon on Saturday, May 5th, at noon. Burial will be private and at the convenience of her family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Horizons Residential Program, P.O. Box 323, South Windham, CT 06266.

For online condolences and guest book, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.