Elizabeth Wadlin Symonds of Tolland, wife of Richard N. Symonds Jr., passed away on August 30, 2018 from leukemia. She was born on September 4, 1936 in Poughkeepsie, New York, the daughter of Assemblyman John F. Wadlin and Beatrice Hasbrouck Wadlin.
She graduated cum laude from Syracuse University in 1957 with a degree in business education, later earning her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She was President of her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta at Syracuse University. She taught at Phoenix High School, Phoenix, NY, Becker Jr. College, Worcester, MA, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Morse School of Business, Hartford, and Manchester Community College, Manchester, from which she retired in 2000.
She loved to talk about memories and family, such as her mother being stuck in a hospital elevator the day she was born, her father as a New York State Assembly Representative, her mother taking over her father’s law practice, auto insurance business, and small savings and loan association businesses while being a mother to teenagers upon her father’s death, raising animals as a child and following her grandchildren’s sports and social events.
In addition to her husband of nearly 58 years, she is survived by two children, four grandchildren, one great grandchild and two siblings: Richard N. Symonds, III and wife Kathy of Canton, CT; Robert D. Symonds and wife Sharon of Willington, CT; brother John J. Wadlin and wife Vivian of Highland, NY, and sister Diane deRoos and husband Leon of Scottsville, NY. Grandchildren include Kristin and Kelsey Symonds of Canton, Heather and Seth of Willington, and great granddaughter Kinsley of Canton.
The funeral was held at the United Church of Tolland on Tolland Green at 10:00 AM, Thursday, September 6, 2018 followed by burial at the Valley View Cemetery in Tolland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tolland Library Association c/o Tolland Library, 21 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT 06084 or the Tolland Fire Department, P. O. Box 827, Tolland, CT 06084.
Join the family! 
