Winifred Maxine Woodruff

Winifred Maxine Lamb Woodruff, our sweet mother, grandmother, and friend to many, was called to Heaven on Thursday morning, October 5, 2017, at the age of 91. "Winnie" was born in Geneva, Nebraska, on July 12, 1926, to Margaret and Donald Lamb. The family, including Winnie's older brother, Keith, lived in Nebraska, Idaho, and ultimately moved to Denver and then Yuma, Colorado, for Winnie's early school years.

In 1939, Margaret, Winnie's now-single mom, moved Winnie and Keith to Washington, D.C., where Margaret worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, the SEC, a peacetime agency, was moved out of Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, PA, where Winnie finished high school and received a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University in 1948, with a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages, Winnie met Harold "Woody" Woodruff, while he was in the Army during the Korean War.

The couple married in 1951, and had their three children while living in Philadelphia - Joanne, Jill, and Randy. The Woodruff family moved from Philadelphia to Dallas, Texas, when their youngest, Randy, was just six months old. Winnie, of course, became very active in their children's schools and spent a year as PTA President.

While Jill and Randy were still in high school, the family moved from Dallas to Texarkana for Woody's job. Winnie also worked, in the Administration Department for the Texarkana ISD, until both Winnie and Woody retired and moved to Horseshoe Bay in 1991.

As Winnie tells it, their fun really began when the couple moved to Horseshoe Bay, with their church friends, golf groups, bridge groups, dinner groups, and Bingo buddies keeping them extremely busy, until Woody's death from cancer in 1999. After Woody's death, Winnie turned her energies towards numerous volunteer endeavors.

Winnie was involved with many organizations, and served most of them until the last six months of her life. She anointed herself the "Sanctuary Services Committee of One" for The Church at Horseshoe Bay (her fancy name for "pew neatener"), was the self-appointed church recycler, church office assistant, and choir librarian. In addition to her work at the church, Winnie was the coordinator for the Prescription Assistance Program, the TeleCare Program volunteers, and for a bridge marathon group. She was also involved for years with the Hill Country Community Theater, the Literacy Council, the Republican Women, and worked as a volunteer in the Seton Hospital gift shop in Burnet. She also put her knitting skills to use, knitting numerous cap and bootie sets for premature babies, and knitting well over thirty prayer shawls for those in need of comfort. In addition, Winnie had been with the Helping Hands Craft Guild since its start in 2000, making cross-stitch Santas which were made into pillows for sale each year at the Helping Hands' Bazaar.

Winnie lived a long and happy, healthy life, was grateful for every minute, and was extremely honored when the Horseshoe Bay City Council proclaimed July 18, 2017, as "Winnie Woodruff Day."

Winnie was preceded in death by her husband, her brother, and parents. She is survived by her children - Joanne Woodruff, Jill Tillotson (husband Mat), Randy Woodruff (wife Angela), her grandchildren - Kyle Woodruff (wife Lindsay), Crissa Youngblood (husband Ryan), Sarah Alisaleh, Ben Tillotson, Sam Tillotson, Keith Woodruff, and great-grandson - William Breckenridge Woodruff.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 14, 1:00pm, at her beloved Church at Horseshoe Bay, with reception to follow. The family asks that any memorials be made to The Church at Horseshoe Bay, the Hill Country Community Theater, or the charity of your choice.