Nancy Ann Lodine

Nancy Ann Wooding was born near Auburn, Washington in the Green River Valley. She was the youngest child of Robert Wooding and Marian Legg and joined brothers Kenneth and Robert Jr. Both the Wooding and Legg families had deep pioneer roots in Washington.

As a young girl, Nancy was fascinated with horses and cowboys. She owned her own horse and spent all her free time exploring the countryside around Auburn. Her father died when she was only 9 years old and after that she and her mother led an adventurous life ranging up and down the West Coast. Nancy attended school in Auburn, Washington; Silverton, Oregon and graduated from high school in Red Bluff, California. Nancy lost her mother when she was 19 and was forced to become independent and self reliant at a young age. In addition to losing her parents early in her life, she also survived a house fire by breaking out a window and jumping to safety.

Nancy was active in the USO during WWII and met the man she would marry after being told by a friend that he was a horse loving cowboy from Montana. It turned out that Wally Lodine was not a cowboy and was not from Montana. He was a city boy from North Dakota who played golf and had never been on a horse in his life. In spite of this misrepresentation, Nancy and Wally quickly discovered that they were made for one another and their marriage lasted for nearly 65 years. Together they raised their two sons, Mark and Paul in Medina, Washington. They enjoyed their life in the Seattle area, with its focus on golf at Broadmoor Golf Club.

Nancy valued education, music and above all her family. Although she had never had the benefit of music lessons and only attended one year of college, both sons had music lessons and a combined 18 years of college, including law degrees. Nancy was proud of her sons and their accomplishments as she was of her husband’s, who was a partner with the international accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co.

Nancy was an astute and dedicated follower of politics and wrote many truth-seeking letters which were published in the Seattle Times. Although she was not one who liked to draw the focus of attention to herself in public, she was always able to overcome her inhibitions when it meant correcting the likes of an Arthur Schlessinger, Jr. in a Bellevue Town Hall Lecture when she caught him playing fast and loose with the facts.

Her later years were difficult physically, yet she enjoyed visits and phone calls from many family members. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and she will be missed. But she will always be remembered for her intelligence and sharp wit, and how she supported and loved her family. She leaves a legacy of reading, learning and love for family. Sunset Hills Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.