Mable Lorraine (Olson) Woodward (1919-2016)

WOODWARD, OLSON, HARLESS, MALLORY, HESS, TORKELSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/4/2017 at 10:14:19

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Mable Lorraine (Olson) Woodward was born January 9, 1919 to Nels and Minnie Olson in Story County, Iowa. Mable graduated from Kelley High School (Story County, Iowa) in 1936 and attended Capital City Community College in Des Moines.

She moved from Kelley to Ames with her family and worked at Woolworth's, where she met her future husband, Delmar Woodward. They were married May 5, 1943 and lived in Laredo, Texas, where Delmar was stationed during the war. After the war, they returned to Ames and remained there until her death. Mable was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2005, which led to a slow decline in her health.

Mable worked for Hach Company for 29 1/2 years, retiring in 1987. She had a very large extended family scattered across the country and had visited some of them in her early years. Mable wanted her children to see and get to know this country, so annual vacations were spent touring all lower 48 states. Then there was the grand road trip to Alaska in which they saw the state before oil was discovered. In their retirement, Mable and Delmar continued to travel around the country and overseas.

She enjoyed gardening, maintaining both flower and vegetable gardens, throughout her life. She and Delmar were avid believers in aerobic exercise. They walked most days - typically at a 4 miles/hour pace - well into their eighties.

Mable passed away at 97 years of age on December 31, 2016 at Heartwood House in Ames.

Mable is survived by her husband of 73 years, Delmar; her sons, Michael (Irene) of Hockessin, Del. and Dale of Ames; her daughter, Cheryl (Lonnie) Harless of Columbus Junction; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Harless) Mallory, Michelle (Harless) Hess, Monica Woodward and Denise Woodward; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased in death by her parents; her sister, Ruth Lucille Torkelson; and her brother, Wayne John Olson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to Heartland Adult Day Care, 205 S. Walnut Ave., Ames, IA 50010 or First Christian Church, 611 Clark Ave., Ames, IA 50010.

Service
Thursday 5 Jan 10:30 AM
First Christian Church
611 Clark Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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