Mrs. Elizabeth (Yates) Wood, 84, of Brooksby Village, Peabody, Mass., formerly of Topsfield, Mass., beloved wife of Robert Allen Wood, died unexpectedly on Dec. 28, 2011, surrounded by her family at Salem Hospital.
Born in Brockton on Jan. 18, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Frank Brightman Yates and Ilene Genevia (Cobb) Yates. She was born and raised in Brockton and was a graduate of Brockton High School, Class of 1944.
Mrs. Wood had been employed in the banking industry for over 20 years. She was associated with the Family Bank at the downtown Topsfield location for many years and as the manager of the Boxford branch until the time of her retirement in 1987. She had previously been employed with Security Federal Savings and Loan in Brockton and had also been associated with the Treasurer’s Office in the City of Brockton.
A longtime member of the Congregational Church of Topsfield, Betty sang in the church choir and taught Sunday school. She was a member of the Village Guild and the women’s clubs of Brockton and Topsfield, Mass. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially at their summer home in Round Pond, Maine. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister.
In addition to her husband of 60 years, Betty is survived by her daughters, Carolyn R. Zelenka and husband Bernard “Dee,” and Deborah J. Macklin and husband Richard of Damascus, Md.; sons, William A. Wood and wife Pamela of Topsfield, Mass., Charles B. Wood and wife Christine of Topsfield, Mass., and Donald Y. Wood and wife Andrea of Topsfield, Mass.; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister, Dorothea (Yates) Carlson of Round Pond.
Betty Wood’s funeral service, which was arranged by the Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home of Danvers, was held Dec. 31, 2011 in the Congregational Church of Topsfield. Relatives and friends were invited to visit with the family during a collation held after the service.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Betty’s memory to the Round Pond Village Improvement Society or the charity of one’s choice.