Olmsted, Betsy Fuller Bissell

Betsy Fuller Bissell Olmsted, 99, of Glastonbury, Mystic and Groton Long Point CT, died January 22, 2023. She was the loving wife of Theodore D. Olmsted, Jr who predeceased her. Born April 21, 1923 in Hartford raised in Suffield, she was the daughter of Charles and Dorothy Bissell, sister of Sumner F. Bissell, the late Emily Loomis, and the late Charles (Bud) Bissell, Jr. Betsy leaves three children, 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, all whom she loved and cherished: Bob Olmsted, Dede Mensel and husband, PJ, and Dwight Olmsted and wife Mary. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Bobby Olmsted and wife Krissy and children Leah and Robert; the late Jill Olmsted Bradley and children Jessica, Joshua, Jacob, Jordan and Joseph; Timothy Mensel and fiancé Charlotte; Daniel Mensel and fiancé Paige. She also leaves the extended Walsh family: Cindy and Brad Snow, Carol Parker, Nancy Bromley, Rick and Christine Walsh, as well as many nieces and nephews. Betsy lived much of her young life in Suffield CT where the family has very deep roots extending back to its founding in mid-1600s. She attended The Chaffee School and graduated from the Walnut Hill School. She attended Connecticut College for two years majoring in Chemistry. She married Dexter Coffin from whom she was divorced after the war. She married Ted Olmsted in 1949 and was happily married until his death in 1987. She married Richard Walsh in 1997 and was also happily married until his death in 2014. Betsy was a longtime resident of Glastonbury where she raised her family and was active in the community. Betsy was an avid collector of antiques and loved researching her genealogy back many generations. She combined her passion for CT history and antiques and became very active in the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society of CT (where she was on the board and loved being a docent at The Phelps-Hatheway House in Suffield), the Glastonbury Historical Society and Wadsworth Athenaeum. She was a longtime member of the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury CT where she taught Sunday school. She also was a member of the Junior League, volunteered at the Newington Children's Hospital and was frequently a den or scout mother for her kids. She loved her family, playing bridge, tennis and the piano, particularly “Rhapsody in Blue”. She also loved chocolate – think of her when you have a Hershey's kiss. A memorial service will be held on February 4 at 1p at The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury (snow date Feb 11), 949 Main St., South Glastonbury. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The PhelpsHatheway House. Please make check out to CT Landmarks and make note that it is for The PhelpsHatheway House. Send to Amos Bull House, 59 South Prospect St, Hartford, CT 06106. Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home has care of arrangements. To leave online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.