Elizabeth Stumpp
Elizabeth Gray Bell Stumpp (“Bette”) of Stratford, CT, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2021 at the age of 90. Born on August 17, 1931, she was the daughter of Donald McKay Bell and Mary Rice Bell of New Britain, CT. She attended the Middlesex Hospital School of Nursing in Middlesex, CT, earning a R.N. degree. She then attended the New York University School of Education, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. There she met her husband Charles Stumpp. They were married on June 16, 1956.
In 1959, she gave birth to their son Douglas and they moved to Norwalk CT where their daughter Kathryn was born soon thereafter. The following years were spent juggling the challenges of raising the children (with a lot of swim meets) while continuing to work as a R.N. Yet, she still found time to help found the Evening Woman’s Club of Norwalk. A job change for her husband brought them to Canton, Ohio where she volunteered with the American Red Cross and the Canton Fine Arts Association. As an avid lover of the game of bridge, she continued to hone her skills and eventually achieved master status. Retirement brought them back to Connecticut, closer to their daughter and grandchildren. She loved the holidays and family gatherings and always remembered birthdays with generous gifts. She was exceedingly proud of her children and grandchildren and loved to tell of their accomplishments.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a cancer survivor. She remained proud to be a nurse (and would not hesitate to let her doctors know she was). Always determined, she battled her last three years suffering from multiple medical conditions. Yet she always cherished her friends and family through this time, and died peacefully when the Lord took her home.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Charles H. Stumpp, her brother Malcom R. Bell of Hagerstown, MD, her two children, Douglas C. Stumpp (Lynne) of New Cumberland, PA, and Kathryn E. Lopes (Steven) of Fairfield, CT, as well as four grandchildren: Lindsey E. Lopes, Christopher M. Lopes, Lisa E. Hershberger (Micah), and Daniel C. Stumpp, and nieces and nephews.
A private memorial service will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to PALS Programs, www. palsprograms.org/donors.
To offer online condolences, please visit www. dennisanddarcy.com