Lasting Memories

Virginia Nalley Woodson
Jan. 3, 1932-Nov. 13, 2018
Menlo Park, California

Virginia was born in Oklahoma and passed away at Stanford Hospital surrounded by close family. As a young girl, Virginia moved from town to town in the Midwest building church congregations with her parents, a Christian minister and his wife, the choir director and lead vocalist. During the Second World War, the family lived in the Bay Area while her father was a chaplain in the Pacific theater. The family eventually settled in Kansas City where Virginia attended high school and then the University of Kansas. With BA and Master’s Degrees in education, she spent the majority of her career teaching elementary school, much of it pioneering the creation of magnet programs for gifted children.

The birth of her first grandchild brought Virginia to the Bay Area. She spent many years on staff at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where she served as administrative assistant to the executive pastor. After retirement, she remained committed to serving that congregation in a variety of volunteer capacities.

Virginia loved her extended family and her many dear friends from the Menlo community. She delighted in attending her grandsons’ athletic events, engaging in her prayer group and bible study, competing at cards, listening to classic oldies, reading mysteries and science fiction, learning about technology, and cheering for her favorite NBA stars. Virginia is loved and remembered by sons Riley David Woodson and Wade Woodson; daughter-in-law Brenda; grandsons Wyatt, Connor, and Riley; brother and sister-in-law Victor and Virlee Nalley of Orange County, and sister and brother-in-law Gloria and Claude Jardon of Joplin, Missouri, as well as nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.