Ethel C. Stafford

Ethel Christine Stafford, 74, of Coatesville, IN, formerly, Thompson, CT, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024. She was born in Long Island, NY, on May 8, 1950 and was a daughter to the late John L. and Margaret (Mochrie) Bates. She grew up in Garden City, NY. After high school Ethel continued her studies receiving her undergraduate degree from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA and then a Masters degree in Education from Worcester State, Worcester, MA. 

In 1971 she moved to Norfolk, VA and was working as a teacher at the Victory Christian Day School. While attending church she met her best friend and husband of 52 years, Jim Stafford. Together they enjoyed traveling to their cabin in Maine, where Ethel loved to swim and ski. She and Jim loved to hop in the car and go for a drive, especially to yard sales. Ethel was warm and caring and made friends easily. She was very involved in Boy Scouting and would volunteer her time as Den Leader and Cub Master. She enjoyed crafts, especially sewing, and was a member of the Heritage Homemakers and the Heritage Lake Quilters. In her quiet time, she enjoyed puzzles, sudoku, and Hallmark movies. Above all, she loved her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. Her pride in her family shone brightly whenever she got a chance to tell stories about them to anyone she met. 

Ethel is survived by her husband, Jim Stafford; son, AJ (Lisa) Stafford, granddaughter, Rebecca, all of Coatesville, her brother Robert Bates and nephew Christian Bates of California, mother in law Mildred Stafford, sisters in law Karen Smith, Linda Dozier, and Geneva Sykes. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.