Lola Woodard

Lola Estelle Maddux Woodard, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a descendant of Texas settler John Starr, died peacefully at Colonial Oaks Assisted Living home in Sugar Land, on the 22th of November 2016. She was 99 and a longtime resident of Houston.

Known to some as Mrs. Woodard, to others as Lola, and to more than just her grandchildren as Grams, she made an impression on all who met her as a no-nonsense East Texas lady and a woman of immense, unshakeable faith.

Lola was born on the 1st of August 1917, in Oakwood, Texas, the oldest surviving child of Henry Sherman Maddux Sr. and Alice Starr, the granddaughter of John and Susannah Parker Starr, who settled in Anderson County in 1848. She grew up in Oakwood.

Lola graduated from Elkhart High School and earned a degree in journalism from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, in 1938. She married Dave Woodard of Elkhart in 1940. During World War II, Lola worked at the Federal Land Bank in Houston while Dave was stationed in Panama. She later joined him there. After the war, the couple settled in Houston, where Dave worked as a switchman for Missouri Pacific Railroad. As they raised two children, Lola attended the University of Houston and earned certification to teach in Texas. She was for many years an active member of Berachah Church in Houston.

For more than 40 years, Lola taught kindergarten in Houston public schools and worked as a resource teacher in the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District. After retiring, she continued to work as a substitute and homeschooling teacher well into her 80s. From 1968 to 1973, she, along with Mabel Webber and their husbands, operated Camp Webwood, a summer camp for special-needs children, in Elkhart. After closing, the camp became a gathering place for her, her children, and her grandchildren, where many fond memories were made.

Lola was preceded in death by her husband Dave, of 32 years; son, Mitchell Arlen Woodard Sr.; two brothers, Tom Maddux and H.S. Maddux Jr.; and two sisters, Hazel Louise Maddux and Fay Thomason. She is survived by her sister, Dolores Reed of Houston; brother, Robert Maddux of Houston; daughter, Linda Casey and husband Mike of Sugar Land; daughter-in-law, Irene Watassek of Sugar Land; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Michael Casey Jr. and wife Marci Silverman, Kevin Casey and wife Carla, and their sons, Evan and Ronnie; Mitchell Woodard Jr., and wife Nicole, and their son, Branden; Collin Casey and wife Mandy, and their sons, Jack and Will, Rachel Walser, and husband Joe, and their children, Nathan, Josh, Hannah, Danielle, and Abby, and Dave Casey.

Lola was laid to rest by her husband at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Elkhart. A celebration of her life is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 30th of December 2016, at the Jasek Chapel of Geo H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Because of Lola’s lifetime commitment to education and children with special needs, in lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Lou B. Maddux Endowed Scholarship at John Brown University, University Advancement, 2000 West University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761; The Arc of Fort Bend, 123 Brooks Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478; or the charity of your choice.