Sally Holmes Atwood of Housatonic died Tuesday April 4, 2017 at Fairview Commons in Great Barrington surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Housatonic on November 7, 1919 daughter of Edward MacDonald Holmes and Bertha Hannum Holmes.
She attended the Housatonic Grammar School and graduated from the former Searles High School Class of 1937. She was active in all school activities. She graduated from the former Berkshire Business College in 1938.
Before her marriage she worked for Western Union and in the office of Rising Paper Company. In later years she worked as secretary to Dr. Edward Chassell of the Riggs Psychiatric Center in Stockbridge, executive secretary to Max Raflowitz, president of Home Gas, and Milton Sleeper, founder of RTI.
Elected to the Great Barrington Library Trustees in 1960, she served for 24 years, the last three as chairman until she and her husband moved to Boston. She was a member of the VNA and co-manager of the This N That Shop for 14 years and a member of the Thursday Morning Club since 1982. Sally was a member of the former Housatonic Congregational Church all her life and was a Deacon for 25 years and Financial Secretary for 15 years. While her children were growing up she was a leader in the Cub Scouts and 4-H.
Sally’s husband of 75 years Walter F. Atwood Jr. predeceased her on October 14, 2016. Sally is survived by son, Walter F. “Buddy” Atwood III and wife Doreen of Great Barrington; daughters, Sally Ann Atwood Osborne and husband Peter of Naples N.Y. and Marilyn Atwood Bisiewicz and husband Ron of Housatonic; seven grandchildren, Amy Bisiewicz, Sarah Dixon Bisiewicz, Meredith Towner, Jared Osborne, Lindsay Chamberlin, Jennifer Husenfus and Jessica Atwood; and seven great grandchildren, Dylan Towner, Alexandra and Aidan Bisiewicz-Sullivan, Jack Chamberlin, Joshua Chamberlin, Jeffery Chamberlin, Charlotte Husenfus and Catherine Husenfus.
A funeral service for Sally H. Atwood will be held on Saturday April 8, 2017 at the former Housatonic Congregational Church with Rev. Belle Fox Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Housatonic. Family will receive friends on Saturday April 8 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington MA 01230. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy in Sally’s memory may be made to the Thursday Morning Club Scholarship in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
