Hanover, NH – Elizabeth Wales Blanton McGrath died at the age of 93 on Friday, September 26 in Hanover, New Hampshire.
A celebration of Betsey’s life will be held at the Fairlee Town Hall on Sunday, November 9 at 1 pm. The link to attend via zoom will be posted at www.geomeandering.com.
Betsey is survived by her three children, Peggy Sherman (John) of Slingerlands, NY: Cathy McGrath of Fairlee, VT; and Rob McGrath (Betsy) of Brewster, MA; her sister, Mary Blanton of Barnard, VT; six grandchildren; and a wide circle of nieces, nephews and their families.
Betsey was the third of four daughters of Forest Williams and Jeannette Wales Blanton of Danville, Indiana. In her first weeks at Smith College, she met Robert Gregory (Greg) McGrath, then a junior at Amherst College, on a blind date. They married after her graduation in 1954 and began their life together in Coronado, California during Greg’s naval service. Afterward, they moved to Rochester, New York where Greg worked as a chemical engineer for Eastman Kodak.
Betsey devoted her creativity and considerable organizational skills to her family, neighbors and community. While raising her family, she volunteered for the cooperative nursery school, PTA, Girl Scouts, and the Irondequoit Public Library. After she and Greg purchased a home on Lake Morey, she volunteered at the Fairlee Public Library and with the Five College Book Sale.
Greg died suddenly in 2009, ending a loving, mutually supportive partnership. In 2015, Betsey began spending winters at Kendal at Hanover and later moved there. The McGrath family is grateful to the Kendal caregivers and residents for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Betsey’s memory to the Friends of the Fairlee Public Library or Fairlee Community Arts.
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