Gladys Vest Woods

On, Saturday, April 10, 2010, Gladys Hall Vest Woods passed away gently following a month of successive illness, at the Westminster Health Care Center, Rock Hill, SC, her residence since 2005. Born July 09, 1920 at Page, WV she was the daughter of the late Bert Benson and Opal Gladys Hall Vest. She was a graduate of Mullens High School where she excelled in tennis, diving and was valedictorian, receiving a scholarship to Concord College which she could not accept due to Depression economic straits. She married Robert E. "Bob" Woods and was the mother of Robert E. "Bob" Woods, Jr. and Sharon Woods. Mrs. Woods was a competitive softball player, tennis player and golfer, winning awards. At the age of 60 she won her very first 10k race, the entire women's division of Mullens initial Dogwood 10k. A community contributor, she was instrumental in developing the Mullens swimming pool and the Mullens Hall of Fame. She was also an excellent quilter, winning awards. At the Highland Avenue Baptist Church she taught, served in missions and contributed her lead alto to the church choir prior to she and Bob moving to Arcadia, FL in the 1990's. In Arcadia, they attended the Arcadia Baptist Church where she continued to serve in education, missions and choir. Bob died in 1993 and she was an exemplary caregiver during his chronic illness. Among her many occupations were retail sales at the Itmann, WV company store and the Mullens Smartwear Shop. She retired as assistant to the administrator of Wyoming General Hospital in Mullens. She was preceded in death by her her husband, Robert E. "Bob" Woods; brother, Charles and sister, Marion. Survivors include her son, Bob and his wife, Kat of Rock Hill, SC and their sons, Rob (Jill) and children, Jacob, Josh and Drew, son Scott and his son, Christopher and son, Joe Todd and her daughter, Sharon of Houlton, WI and her son, Gerald (Evelyn) Ronning and their daughters, Frances, Roberta and Lola. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Audrey; brother-in-law, C.R. Clark; cousins, Isabelle Tyree, Jennie Mason, Tom Mason and Martha Irwin; special friends, Peggy Orton and Charlie Mercer and her personal attendant of five years, Mary Wilson and former attendant, Sarah Atkinson. A private commemoration and consecration service will be held at Tyree Funeral Home and High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. The family requests any memorials in her name be sent to: Haiti Under God, Inc., 148 Tranquility Lane, Edisto Beach, SC 29438. She had known and respected members of this mission for many years. Please bless us with your prayers for her life, death and rebirth. Thank you. Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV