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Obituary for WOODARD


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Saturday July 12, 2014

WOODARD, GRETCHEN JEANNE Age 89, was born in Warren, Pennsylvania on May 2, 1925. On Saturday, July 5, 2014, she came face to face with Jesus, her Lord and Savior whom she loved and served almost her entire life. We, her family and friends, are praising God and thanking Him for His mercy and grace in allowing her to finally go where she's been wanting and waiting to go for so very long. Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband of almost 42 years, Eugene "Woody" Woodard and her second husband, Kenneth E. Sowards. They shared ten years together before he died. She is also preceded in death by a son, Dennis Woodard; a grandson, Marcus Daniel Nagy; and her only sibling, Hugh Jamieson. She is survived by a son, Ronald "Coach" Woodard residing in Kyle, TX and his wife, Penny; daughter, Patricia "Tish" Nagy and husband, Tom, of Los Lunas, NM; and Dennis' wife, Debbie Woodard of Socorro, NM. Gretchen was blessed with nine grandchildren, Scott Woodard and wife, Heather, Randy Woodard, Ricci Woodard, Michael Nagy and wife, Sylvia, Matthew Nagy and wife, Stacey, Clifford Nagy, Nicole Bratcher and husband, Brad, Gina Kasky and husband, Joel and Joel Dennis Woodard. She also leaves behind eighteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Gretchen was a bookkeeper well into her seventies where she finished her career at Huning Mercantile in Los Lunas. She always considered Louie Huning her third son. Gretchen's dream for many years was to help start a Bible teaching church in the Rio Grande Valley, which she saw to fruition in 1981 with the beginning of Community Bible Church of Los Lunas where she served the Lord the remainder of her productive time on earth. A Celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, 11:30 a.m., at Community Bible Church, 1467 North Highway 314 in Los Lunas, followed by a time of fellowship and lunch. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to.......aw heck, just send flowers......she loved 'em! If you personally hate flowers then feel free to make a contribution to the charity of your choice, Gretchen had too many "favorite" charities to choose from! Please visit our online guestbook for Gretchen at www.FrenchFunerals.com FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd NE 505-843-6333