Viola Mae Woodside's Obituary
Viola Woodside, age 97, of Sparta, IL, formerly of Oakdale, IL, passed away on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. in Friendship Manor nursing home, Nashville, IL. Viola was born November 20, 1910 in Oakdale, IL, a daughter to Ernst and Mary Belle (Wreath) Huff. On November 20, 1931 she married Avie E. Woodside in Edwardsville, IL, and he preceded her in death on July 13, 1995. She was a former assistant lab technician and LPN at Pinckneyville Hospital, member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Sparta, and had been Missionary Leader for and bought choir robes for Swanwick Presbyterian Church. Viola was a Historian Archives Committee member at Trinity United Presbyterian Church Past-President of F.O.E. Auxiliary in Pinckneyville, volunteer at Sparta Information Center as a regular member on committee and assisted with taking blood pressure for Sparta Senior Citizens Center as well as visited Senior Manor and RCCC playing bingo with residents, formerly a 4-h leader for Swanwick Eager Beavers, and assistant softball coach, and worked in Nashville, St. Louis, and in her husband's general store (Shell and Amoco station) in Swanwick, IL. She also worked for Dr. Mathis at his Walnut street office in Pinckneyville. Viola won a medal for oldest walker in Harvard, IL milk day parade where four generations (Viola, Darlene, Jeri, and Ceci) participated together. At 89 she dressed in her covered wagon centennial dress, walked 1 ½ miles in the Oakdale Parade and won first place and received a plaque for best costume. "As long as the music played, I could walk in time and it took no effort." Viola was selected Queen of the First Annual Pinckneyville Hospital Prom 2005 and Valentine Queen at Pinckneyville Health Care Center 2004. She hosted many Huff reunions at her home in Swanwick and traveled and waltzed with Avie and Marilyn. Viola (and her wink, smile, and waltzing ability) will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Survivors include her two daughters: Darlene Engle-Hocking of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Marilyn Reville of Sparta, IL/Cincinnatti, OH, two sisters: Wanda (Huff) Yingst, of Tinley Park, IL, and Raeleen Volpert, of Marissa, IL, four grandchildren: Jeri Lynn Settles and Richard Engle both of Steamwood, IL, Daniel (Debby) Engle of Rockford, IL, and Lynnette (Scott) Hagerty of Titusville, FL and five great-grandchildren: Christopher, Matthew, and Jared Hagerty, Patrick Engle and Cecilia Settles. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister: Lena Tomblin, two brother: Clyde Huff, and Grover Huff, one grandson: Christopher Reville and two great-grandchild: Lauren Elizabeth Engle and Sawyer James (twin to Jared) Hagerty. Funeral services will be held at the Pyatt Funeral Home, Coulterville, IL, on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Bethel Cemetery, Swanwick, IL. Friends may call at the Pyatt Funeral Home, Coulterville on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and then on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until time of service. Memorials may be made to Sparta Senior Citizens Center or Alzheimer's Association.
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