Feb 5, 2008
NORTHAMPTON – Rebecca Sullivan died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Feb. 5 [2008], due to complications from gastric cancer.
Becky grew up in Bridgeport, Ohio. She graduated from Mount Union College and later received a master’s of education at Long Island University.
While at Mount Union she met Kingsley Sullivan, her husband of 43 years. Immediately after college they served together in the Peace Corps in Turkey. When they returned to the U.S., Becky was instrumental in starting the Headstart program in Barnesville, Ohio, and later taught elementary school in Elyria, Ohio. They returned to Turkey in 1969 for five years teaching for the United Church of Christ World Missions. She then continued her teaching career in Hazelgreen, Ky.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Leander, Texas.
Upon retirement, Becky and Kingsley moved to Northampton and resided in Kingsley’s family home. While in Northampton, Becky was active as a volunteer. She was a member of: Learning In Retirement, a Sangha group; the 19th Century Book Club; and Edwards Church. In 2007 her garden was selected for the Forbes Library Garden Tour.
In addition to her husband, Kingsley Sullivan, she leaves: two sons, Van Sullivan of Cummington, and Darin Sullivan of Richmond, Va.; brother James Drake of Laurel, Md.; many nieces and nephews and family and friends around the world.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Edwards Church on Saturday, Feb., 16, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060, designated for the Northampton Survival Center. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Pease and Gay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. — Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton MA, ~ March 7 or 8, 2008.