Gertrude Bowers Burdsall

08/28/2006

Gertrude Bowers Burdsall, 99, of Baldwin Hill died Monday at her home. Born Sept. 30, 1906, in Lansdowne, Pa., daughter of Walter and Gertrude Kissick Bowers, she graduated from Lansdowne High School. She graduated from Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, in 1928. She married the late Ellwood R. Burdsall on Oct. 6, 1928, in Landsdowne. Two years later, the couple moved to Baldwin Hill Farm, owned by the Burdsall family. She lived on Baldwin Hill for the remainder of her life. She was a member of the Purchase (N.Y.) Friends Meeting. Mrs. Burdsall volunteered at the Recording for the Blind, and was also on the boards of directors for Fairview Hospital and the its Visiting Nurse Association. She was the class secretary for the Swarthmore alumni college magazine and a member of the "Twigs" of Fairview Hospital. She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Lenox, Great Barrington and Egremont Garden Clubs. She was also a member of the American Garden Club and the Herb Society of America, and the Herb Associates of Botanical Gardens. She also was a Boston Red Sox fan. Besides her husband, who died Feb. 28, 1964, she leaves three sons, Walter H. Burdsall of Friendswood, Texas, Richard H. Burdsall of Egremont and Benjamin R. Burdsall of Avon, Conn.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A private burial for Gertrude Burdsall, who died Monday, Aug. 28, 2006, will be held by the family at a later date. Calling hours will be on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME who is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Health Program of Great Barrington, Fairview Hospital and HospiceCare of the Berkshires in care of the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com. She also leaves her daughters-in-law, Priscilla and Susan; nine grandchildren; Jeffrey, Edward, Christopher, Richard, Thomas, Sarah, Stuart, Robert and Whitney Burdsall and nine great-grandchildren; T. Scott, Steven, James, Robert, Lauren, Timothy, Lindsay, Sam and Will Burdsall. She also leaves several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her other daughter-in-law, Patricia, as well as her two sisters, Dorothy Hallowell and Mina Beecham.

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