Ellen Bates, 82, of Cheshire, departed this life on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 peacefully at her home in Cheshire. She was the loving wife of the late Donald Bates. Ellen was born on April 21, 1928, in Wallingford, CT, a daughter of the late Julius Clapp Griswald and the late Ruth Hough Griswold Ljungquist Ranney. Ellen attended New Haven State Teachers College were she obtained her Teachers Assistant Certification She spent several years working as a Teachers Assistant in the Cheshire Public School System. Ellen worked as a Bank Teller for many years in the Cheshire and Wallingford area. She was also a Certified Dental assistant, working as an Dental Assistant and Receptionist for Dr. John Crowell. She will be sadly missed by her son Doug Bates and his wife Eileen of Milford; two grandsons: Jonathan and Nigel Bates; and her nieces: Pamela LaChance, Patricia Sabel and Cynthia Barry. Relatives and friends may call on Monday, March 7, 2011 at B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the In Memoriam Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude's, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online atwww.StJude.org. To leave a message of hope and remembrance or for directions please visitwww.BCBailey.com.