Louise Woodward

Louise Davis Woodward passed away peacefully on April 22, 2020, at the age of 96. She was born on October 4, 1923, in Marlin, Texas to Linton J. Davis and Louise Clendenen Davis. When she was 10, her family moved to Dallas, Texas where she attended school and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1940. After graduation, she traveled by train to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Ward Belmont College. Louise transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and earned a BBA degree in 1944. While at UT, she met Stanley Woodward on a match date. They dated until he left to serve in the navy during World War II. During the time that he was away, she flew as a hostess for Braniff Airways on the route between Dallas and Chicago. Louise and Stanley were married on August 2, 1946, when Stanley returned from overseas. They moved to Galveston where Stanley attended medical school and Louise taught elementary school. After Dr. Woodward’s graduation in 1952, he volunteered for service in the United States Army, and they moved to San Antonio where they were stationed at Ft Sam Houston. Their daughter Valin was born in San Antonio in 1954. After Dr. Woodward was discharged from the army in 1955, the family moved to New Braunfels where he was in family practice until 1999. Their daughter Sarah was born in 1956. During their time in New Braunfels, Louise devoted her life to her family, and her church, where she served as a deacon and later as an Elder. She volunteered for the Red Cross at McKenna Hospital for 30 years and was instrumental in setting up and running the first gift shop at the hospital. She also served as a docent for the Sophienburg Museum for 7 years, as a member of the board for 6 years and as President for 2 years. Louise was a founding member of the Republican Women of Comal County and she and Stanley were founding members of the Heritage Society of New Braunfels and members of the Conservation Society. In 1988, Louise was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Award for Community Service. She and Dr. Woodward served as co-chairs of the first Heritage Exhibit in the Civic Center during Wurstfest. Louise was also a member of the Sesquicentennial Committee, a mentor at Carl Schurz School, volunteer at the SOS Food Bank, and a contributor to many local projects. Louise was a decades’ long member of the Gay Forties Club where she served as President in 1968 and where she made life-long friendships. She was an avid bridge player and belonged to several bridge clubs with her friends, many of whom played together for over 50 years. She was a longtime supporter and life member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, supporter of UT academics and athletics, a member of the Littlefield Society, Chancellor Council and Leadership Texas. Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Linton J. and Louise Davis, her husband, Stanley M. Woodward and her brother, Paul Clendenen Davis. Louise is survived by her daughters Valin and husband, Joe Miller, Sarah and husband Barry Shea, granddaughters, Parker Shea and fiancé Alex Wood, Regan Shea, sister-in-law Amelia Woodward, numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved cat Bitsy who never left her side. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to New Braunfels Presbyterian Church 373 Howard Street, Heritage Society of New Braunfels 1370 Church Hill Dr., Sophienburg Museum 401 W. Coll, Hope Hospice 613 N. Walnut or the Braunfels Foundation Trust P.O. Box 311417.