Elizabeth Barnes Alvord, 94, formerly of Manchester, and Cummaquid, MA, widow of Martin E. Alvord, died Saturday, September 18, 1999 at The McLean Home in Simsbury. Born in Bristol, February 9, 1905, daughter of the late Arthur S. Barnes, who was the publisher of the Bristol Press newspaper, and Anna Bailey Barnes, she was raised in Bristol, attending local schools. Mrs. Alvord attended Wellesley College and graduated from Wheelock College in 1928. Upon graduating, Mrs. Alvord planned to go West to teach kindergarten, but Miss Wheelock asked her to teach for one year in Manchester. This she did, teaching kindergarten at Highland Park School. She then decided to remain in Manchester and taught kindergarten and nursery school for many years. In 1934 she was married to Martin Alvord of Manchester who predeceased her in 1974. Betty Alvord, as her family and friends knew her, was extremely active in her community. She was on the Boards of the YMCA and the local Red Cross Chapter, and was president of the Manchester Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Center Congregational Church where she managed the Sunday school programs at the church. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Cosmopolitan Club, and served as a director and secretary of the Bristol Press Publishing Company. In later years Betty started and taught in a pre-school at the YMCA. She is survived by a daughter, Ann A. Groves of Blacksburg, VA; a son, Joel B. Alvord of Cambridge, MA; four grandchildren, Jennifer Groves, Sarah Alvord, John Groves, and Seth Alvord; and a brother, E. Barttlett Barnes of Bristol. A memorial services will be held Friday, September 24, 2 p.m. at the Center Congregational Church, 11 Center Street, Manchester. Private burial will be in the East Cemetery, Manchester. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Center Congregational Church Memorial Fund, or to the Manchester Memorial Hospital Development Fund, 71 Haynes Street, Manchester, 06040. The Watkins Funeral Home, Manchester, has care of arrangements.

The Hartford Courant, September 21, 1999