Mary Belle Putnam (Stroud)

Mary Belle (Stroud) Putnam, 76, of Wethersfield, beloved wife of Donald S. Putnam, passed away peacefully on Wednesday (January 25, 2012) at the Newington Health Care Center. Born in Bonham, TX on September 24, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Lenous and Estelle (Nichols) Stroud. Mary was a long-time employee of the Hart Seed Company in Wethersfield. Her greatest joys were being a devoted wife and mother. Mary had many friends and will be sorely missed. She is now in the company of Jesus Christ, most likely has a smile on her beautiful face because she is free from the ravages of dementia, and is happy to be with her son, Gary W. Putnam. Including Donald, her husband of 57 years, Mary is survived by her three children, Douglas Putnam and his wife Leslie of Colchester, Pamela Franco and her husband David and Wendy Putnam, all of Austin TX; six grandchildren, Sarah Franco, Carly and Spencer Putnam, Scott Putnam, Mitchell Putnam and Lisa Putnam; her sister, Gwenlyn Collard of Irving, TX; brother-in-law, Lee Putnam of Wethersfield and sister-in-law, Joan Tupper of Piedmont, CA as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. She was predeceased by her brother, J.L. Stroud.

A memorial service will be held in the spring at the First Church of Christ and burial will be in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. Donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , 2075 Silas Deane Hwy., Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.