Elizabeth J. (Wood) Tolbert

Elizabeth J. (Wood) Tolbert, age 88, of Stow, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 10, 2022.  She was the loving wife of the late Henry Tolbert Jr.

Elizabeth was born in Manchester, New Hampshire on December 19, 1933, the daughter of the late Paul S. and Frances L. (Illsley) Wood.  She was raised and educated in Auburn, NH, graduating from Manchester Central High School in 1951.  Elizabeth went on to attend Elliot Hospital Nursing School, graduating with the class of 1954. Elizabeth and Henry married on March 14, 1959 and settled in Stow where they raised their family.  

Elizabeth worked as a registered nurse for thirty two years at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford.  After retiring from nursing, she went through an extensive program to become a dental assistant and returned to the workforce for another 10 years at Kirk Family Dental of Sudbury.

Elizabeth was a congregant of St. John Lutheran Church in Sudbury for sixty years where she was an active member of the Hand Bell Choir, Book Club, Costume Creator for the Hand Puppet Troupe and always enjoyed the activities and outings with Seniors on the Go.

 She also spent many years volunteering with the NCC Fathers Group of the West Concord Prison, receiving a certificate of dedication in 1994.

Elizabeth was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time gardening, quilting, sewing, antiquing, and stayed active by walking in her beloved neighborhood that she lived in for fifty years.  She cherished her family vacations to Castle Island Camps in Belgrade, ME, a tradition for fifty + years, as well as traveling to San Francisco to visit her daughter for their California adventures.

 Elizabeth loved her cat Maxi and the time they spent together watching The Golden Girls and the birds and wildlife in the conservation land that surrounded her home.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lola Tolbert of Stow, MA; Amy Tolbert of San Francisco, CA; her brothers, Stanley Wood and wife Marion of Auburn, NH; William Wood and wife Jacqueline of Auburn, NH; her beloved cat Maxi and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her brother Alan Wood.  

Her Memorial Service will be celebrated on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church 16 Great Road, Sudbury, MA 01776.

 In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to The ALS Association.

https://www.als.org/donate