Alice Woodruff, 89, of South Bethany, Del., died on Sept. 30, 2014. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 66 years, Harry Charles Woodruff ("Woody") and her children, H. Charles Woodruff II and Cynthia Woodruff, four grandchildren, Christopher, Joel, Jamie and Allison Woodruff and four great-grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends.
Alice was born to the late William and Ada Tanner on March 15, 1925, in North Granville, N.Y. She was the youngest of five children and is predeceased by her siblings, Hazel Chapin, Grace Tanner, Alan Tanner and Wilma Jones.
In 1946 Alice graduated from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Albany, N.Y. Her wartime nursing rotations took her to New York City where she participated in the Victory in Europe celebration.
Following Woody's wartime United States Navy Air Corps service, the couple was married on Aug. 20, 1948 in the chapel of All Saints Church in North Granville. Alice worked as an operating room nurse in Albany and later transferred to the Glens Falls Hospital and then the Granville Hospital to be closer to their farm in Pawlet, Vt. They had two children while on the farm: Harry Charles Woodruff II (“Chuck”) and Cynthia Woodruff (“Cindy”). In 1958 they left the farm to live in Ayer, Mass. and then Herndon, where Woody was an opening day air traffic controller at Dulles International Airport.
In Virginia, Alice was active in many community groups and in the Trinity Presbyterian Church. She had fond memories of their Irish immigrant neighbors, Lily and Bill Scott. She continued her love of nursing in private care duty. With overflowing kindness, she made a home that attracted friends and family of all ages. Her children’s friends were a part of the family, too. She followed in her mothers' footsteps as a baker and quilter. Family members still cherish the baby quilts she sewed for their newborns. In 1969 her first grandson, Christopher, was born.
Upon Woody's retirement in 1979, the couple moved to South Bethany, Del. where they built their own four bedroom house. They lived in this house for 35 years. Alice was a loyal participant in the Ocean View Presbyterian Church where she joined the women's sewing circle and held many leadership roles. While in Delaware she welcomed her second grandson, Joel, and her two granddaughters, Jamie and Allison, into the family.
Even today the sign outside of their Brandywine Drive home reads "Alice's Home Cooking" for Alice knew everyone's favorite dessert from donuts to cookies to pies. For Alice feeding people was only one small way of expressing her love for others. All who knew her felt her unconditional love. Never one to judge, she simply loved. She was often called an "angel" and lived her Christian beliefs in daily life. Her love for Woody was evident every day in all she did for him and his family and friends. Never a birthday or anniversary escaped her notice and always included special cards or calls. She always had time to talk or listen and was a surrogate mom to many folks. She offered a sympathetic ear when times were difficult and heartfelt celebration of achievements in good times. Alice's faith was steadfast and she found comfort and strength in prayer.
Her final resting place will be in the Mettowee Valley cemetery in Pawlet, Vt.
Donations to the Ocean View Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society would be welcomed in lieu of flowers.