Woodworth, Alvina

HAYES, MCELHINNEY, WIEDERECHT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/25/2014 at 15:55:36

Source: The Morning Sun News-Herald, August 11, 2011, accompanied by a photo.
Alvina Woodworth

Alvina (Hayes) (McElhinney) Woodworth, age 99, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed away July 26, 2011. Alvina was born May 19, 1912 in Wapello, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Rozena (Wiederrecht) Hayes. She grew up on a rural farm and attended country school.

After graduating from Wapello High School she attended the University of Iowa until she married Gail David McElhinney in 1936. To this union were born two children, Karen and Melvl. Gail passed away in February, 1962 and Alvina remarried in July, 1964 to I. J. “Woody” Woodworth, the father of her son-in-law, Jim. Woody passed away in December, 1995.

In 2001 Alvina moved to Spokane to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Jim.

She had a great many interests, including sewing, gardening, music (piano, organ and voice), art, reading, and doing genealogy on her computer, which she learned to use when she was 88 years old. She attributed her long life to good nutrition, daily exercise, an active and inquiring mind and a deep love of God and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brothers Oran, Sumner, and Neil.

She is survived by her daughter Karen (Jim) in Spokane, her son Melvl (Rita) in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, her stepdaughter Louisa Anderson (Dale) in Othello, WA, and by four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of Spokane or the Methodist Church in Wapello.