Ruth Ann Woodard

She was born to Robert Raymond and Nellie Mae (Lindecker) Bolen on March 30, 1933, and had just celebrated her 91st birthday. She had a good childhood growing up in Mifflin with her siblings, Robert, Gary and Beth. We remember hearing many stories of her childhood and how she tried to keep her siblings out of trouble!! She was always the more serious one and had a lot of responsibility growing up, which she never minded.

A few years after graduating high school, she joined the Navy Waves, and that's where she met a handsome young man named Furman Shaw "Woody" Woodard. It was love at first sight and after meeting in October and getting engaged in November, they were married on February 25, 1955. They were happily married for 44 years until Woody passed away on January 4, 2000. During their union, they were blessed with five children...Gregory Shaw, Valerie Anne, Philip Allon and surprise twins Diana Lynn and Dana Leigh.

Ruth Ann worked several jobs outside of the home, including Shipman's Golf Repair (where she worked on golf clubs for Tom Watson), McDonald's (the salad lady) and Dr.'s Baeke, Athon and Gentry in Medical Records. However, out of all of these jobs, the one that brought her the greatest joy was being a wife and Mom. She was very dedicated to her family and made many sacrifices without ever complaining. She cooked homemade meals, cleaned, sewed clothes for us kids (staying up most of the night on a Saturday so that her babies, Dana and Diana, could have a pretty new dress to wear to church) and so much more! She also provided a loving and stable home life for the family and made each one of us feel special, no matter what was going on. She always made everyone, including friends and strangers, feel comfortable and accepted.

She loved the Lord deeply and dedicated her life to Him in her early twenties. She made sure that all of her children knew about Jesus and the importance of having a personal relationship with Him.

Momma loved ALL animals and had many pets throughout her life. And she was forever putting outside any little bug she found in the house. She enjoyed going to thrift stores, reading, being out in nature and writing poetry, which she had a gift for.

Ruth Ann is survived by her twin daughters, Diana L. Woodard Wirta (Treven) and Dana L. Woodard, both of Prairie Village, KS

She was preceded in death by her husband Reverend F.S. "Woody" Woodard, her children Gregory S. Woodard and Philip A. Woodard, her parents Robert Raymond Bolen and Nellie Mae (Lindecker) Bolen, siblings Robert L. Bolen, Sr., Gary R. Bolen and Elizabeth Bolen Slick.

Thank you, Momma, for rarely complaining to us, always forgiving us and loving us unconditionally. Until we meet again, all our love forever.