Obituaries

Florence S. Bassford

Florence S. Bassford, a resident of North Branford (formerly of Darien and Madison) died at Evergreen Woods after a brief illness. She was married to the late Robert W. Bassford, who predeceased her by 24 years.

Born in Chicago on July 6, 1917, she was the only child of Ernest and Anne Savage (nee Roberts) of White Plains, N.Y. A graduate of Northfield School for Girls, she worked as a fashion and photographer's model in New York City in the late '30s and early '40s. She married Robert Winmill Bassford of Warrenton, Va., and Scarsdale, N.Y., on Nov. 2, 1940, while he was serving in Europe during WWII with the U.S. Army's 3rd armored division (Normandy Invasion), and later with the Judge Advocate's staff. She worked as a welder in an aircraft plant.

Upon her husband's honorable discharge and return from Europe in December 1945, they moved to Darien where they resided for 40 years. Mrs. Bassford was a volunteer with the American Red Cross for 35 years, and active in many community service projects. An accomplished seamstress, knitter and embroiderer, she believed in service to others, and engaged her talents to that end, knitting hats for cancer patients, making quilts for AIDS babies and other similar projects. While living in Madison, she worked as a volunteer with the Scranton Library. She was also an avid gardener, and created beautiful gardens wherever she lived.

Survivors include her son, Thomas Bassford of Maine; her two granddaughters, Amber Rose and Meadow Iris, also of Maine; her nieces, Virginia Clemens of Pennsylvania, Bobbi Wolverton of Tennessee, and Gail Champlin of Tennessee; and her nephew Robert Cleveland of Virginia.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Madison at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Red Cross.

John George Luttrell

John George Luttrell, died at his home in Darien on Wednesday, May 25, surrounded by his family. He was 81.

Born in rural Christian County, Mo., he grew up in Leon, Kan. He had a long and distinguished career with Mobil Oil, beginning as a petroleum engineer in Venezuela and rising to become managing director of Mobil operations first in Libya, then Nigeria, and then Mobil North Sea based in London.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma; children, John, Denise and Steven; and grandchildren, Angela, Robyn, Cameron, Jake and Ryan.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. A service will be held at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, on Wednesday, June 2, at 10:30. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John Luttrell to the Dr. Harry Last Memorial Scholarship, KU Endowment Association, PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS, 66044.

John H. `Mac' McClutchy

John H. "Mac" McClutchy Sr. of Mansfield, formerly of Chelmsford and Hyde Park, died Saturday, May 22, surrounded by his family at the Southeast Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center in Easton. He was 90.

Born Jan. 2, 1920, in Boston, Mr. McClutchy was the son of the late Thomas F. and Margaret (Curtin) McClutchy. He was the husband of the late Mary A. (Harrington) McClutchy who died in 1970.

Mr. McClutchy was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corp, and served proudly in WWII and was honorably discharged in 1945. He was also a retired machinist from the General Electric Company in both Lynn and Everett, Mass., where he worked for 33 years. He raised his family in the Hyde Park section of Boston.

He also spent many years living with his son James and his family in Chelmsford, and more recently with his daughter Joan and her family in Mansfield.

Mr. McClutchy was also married to the late Roberta Frasier of Jamaica Plain, Mass.

He leaves his seven children, John Jr. and his wife, Janet, of Darien, Thomas F. of Boston, James W. of Newbury, Mass., Deborah A. Wosny of Norwood, Mass., Mary Tessier and her husband, Steven, of Middleboro, Mass., Elaine M. DeNapoli and her husband, Paul, of Hyde Park, Mass., and Joan M. Adorno and her husband, Leonardo, of Mansfield, Mass.; 24 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his grandson, James Tessier.

He was the brother of seven: Margaret Potter, Thomas McClutchy and Ann O'Donnell; and the late James McClutchy, Mary Barbagallo, Dorothy Delorey and Francis Brinkert. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

His funeral was Wednesday, May 26, from the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield, Mass., and was followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary's Church, Mansfield. Burial with military honors will follow in Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the James Tessier Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mayflower Bank, 30 S. Main St., Middleboro, MA. 02346.

For additional information, visit www.shermanjackson.com

William (Billy) R. Plank

William (Billy) R. Plank, a long-time Darien resident, died Tuesday, May 25. He was 52.

Mr. Plank was born on April 3, 1958, in Stamford. He was the son of Elizabeth (Betty) Marciano Plank of Darien and the late William W. Plank.

Mr. Plank came to Darien when he was 3 years old and attended Darien schools. He enjoyed fishing and camping with his buddies. He served his community for many years as a member of the Noroton Heights Fire Department, where he enjoyed his passion of cooking for all the volunteers at the "Heights." He was an avid stamp and coin collector.

In addition to his mother, survivors include two brothers, Gary and his wife, Barbara, and Scott and his wife, Colleen, both of Darien; two nieces, Rachel and Morgan; and five nephews, David, Scott, Matt, Justin and Ryan.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien today (Thursday, May 27) from 5 to 8 p.m. A private family interment will be held at Spring Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Richard Rosenthal Hospice Residence, 100 Shelburne Road Stamford, CT 06902.