LEWISBURG - Ethel C. Gustafson of Lewisburg, formerly of Marlborough, Mass., passed away Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, at age 94. She had resided at the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village in Lewisburg for the past year.

Ethel was born February 28, 1917 in Middleborough, Mass., the daughter of the late Garfield E. and Lena L. (Ryan) Cross. She married John R. Gustafson on May 15, 1943, with whom she celebrated 42 years of marriage until his death in 1985.

Ethel had been employed as a quality inspector at the Diamond Shoe, RCA, and Bose companies. She was a member of The First Congregational United Church of Christ and the women's auxiliary of the D.A.V. of Marlborough. She loved knitting, playing bingo and spending time with family. Ethel was also very compassionate to the needs of the less fortunate and supported numerous charitable organizations throughout her lifetime.

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert K. and Ann (Trudeau) Gustafson of Marlborough, and Jon R. and Catherine (Donahoe) Gustafson of Manlius, N.Y.; five grandchildren and their spouses, Robert and Karen (Cross) Gustafson, Dan and Wendy (Gustafson) Patriacca of Marlborough, Matthew and Megan (Malatesta) Gustafson of Hudson, Mass., Benjie and Oceanna (Gustafson) Brubaker of Danville, Pa., and April Joy Gustafson of Pittsburgh; four great-grandchildren, Danny and Jenna Patriacca and Sarah and Marin Gustafson of Marlborough; her best friend and sister-in-law, Alice Cross of Westborough, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter and her five siblings, Ronald, Vera, Arlene, Winston and Earl, and her longtime companion and friend, Ed Akroyd.