Beverly (Woodard) Strong, 84, widow of Ralph Strong, passed away on Sunday, April 10, at the John Dempsey Hospital. Beverly was born in Bristol on Dec. 5, 1937, the daughter of Archibald and Susan (Lefebvre) Woodard. Raised in Bristol, she attended St. Joseph Grammar and St. Anthony’s High schools.
Beverly was an exceptional tennis player and became the first girls’ tennis coach at St. Paul High School in Bristol, holding that position for five years. Individually, she won numerous singles tournaments, as well as doubles with her husband.
She is survived by a sister, Madelyn Politis, and step-son, Donald Strong and wife, Renee, and several nieces, nephews and close friends.
Beverly was a member of the Bristol Lions Club for 62 years and was its mascot for over 20 of them. She especially loved the kids and was there for them in walking or riding in local parades for the club, in addition to working at the organization’s breakfast for the children.
She never hesitated when it came to volunteering for the Red Cross, Special Olympics, Zion Lutheran Church kitchen or otherwise. In memory of our veterans, she helped set up American Flags on the gravesites of local veterans and spoke at the WW I Monument on Memorial Boulevard when it was closed on special occasions for individuals/groups to visit the monuments there.
She has been honored by the Bristol Tramps and is a nominee for consideration to be inducted into the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame.
Besides her parents, Beverly was predeceased by her siblings: Louise Goulet, Dorothy Gomes, WWII Marine casualty Frederick Woodard, Theresa Chapulis, Susan Bilodeau, Archie Woodard, and Charlotte Zapor.
Relatives and friends may call at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, on Wednesday, April 13, between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebration at St. Joseph Church, 33 Queen St., Bristol, at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at West Cemetery, Pound Street, Bristol.
In lieu of flowers, memory donations for Beverly should be made out to the Bristol Korean War Veterans Association, c/o Richard Avery, 258 Willis St., Bristol, CT 06010.
Please visit Beverly’s memorial website at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.