Sarah Ann "Sally" Woodward

Sarah "Sally" Ann (Loy) Woodward, formerly Sally Robertson, flew off into the wild blue yonder on September 7, 2025, on a night graced by a full moon. She was born June 10, 1933 in Forks of Cacapon near Paw Paw, West Virginia on a cattle farm which the family called "The Forks." Her beloved parents were Clyde Williams and Annie Caroline (Whitacre) Loy. When she was five, the family purchased a second farm along the Middle Road in Winchester and she grew up there joyfully helping her father with the farm chores. She graduated from James Wood High School in 1952 where she was the editor of the school newspaper. Though she aspired to be a writer and her interest in writing and journalism continued, she chose the practical path of nursing, completing her RN degree from Winchester Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. Her thirty-year career in nursing included hospital nursing, head nurse of the long-term rehab ward at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, and home health with the Frederick/Winchester Health Department and Homecall.
She is survived by her three children with Alfred Dawson "Bud" Robertson (deceased), whom she married on September 10, 1955: James Barton "Bart" Robertson (Kendra Tolley) of Winchester; Lori Ann Robertson (Chris Crawford) of Shepherdstown; and Amy Dawson Robertson (Alexandra Ogilvie) of Washington, DC. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Barb of Berryville. She leaves behind three grandchildren, Joshuah Robertson, Melissa Robertson Saren and Rachael Harasink Tobin, and great-grandchildren Kyah Robertson and Meah Robertson, Chandler Ferrebee, Reese Ferrebee and Maddox Ferrebee and Isobel Ann Tobin, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews. She is also survived by her former son-in-law, Gary Harasink.
She leaves behind her honorary daughters, Sei-Hee Arii and Shannon Myers; and Freda Arii and her spouse, Helena Juralbal-Arii. She so cherished their son, Hiro, and was honored to be his nanny.
She is also survived by the children of her late husband, Charles Roy Woodward, with whom she shared her life from 1987 until his death in 2000: Charles Woodward Jr. (deceased) and Geneva "Jinx" Hartung; step-grandchildren: John Mark Woodward and Joy Hartung Leediamond; and numerous step-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her siblings Alyn Fletcher, Philip Loy, Carolyn Howard, Jacquelin (Jacci) March, Marie Chapman and Elizabeth (Libby) Fleet. Henry Stephens Loy and Jean Zeiler Loy died in infancy.
She was a member of Island Hill United Methodist Church, Forks of Cacapon, WV and a past member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, Berryville, VA and Opequon Presbyterian Church, Kernstown, VA.
Her priority and devotion was always her family and how to be of help to those she could offer friendship and comfort. She was not a joiner but had great impact in her one-on-one relationships, unselfishly offering her time and care to those who were in need. She was innovative and unwasteful, able to solve practical problems with any materials she had on hand. Always athletic, one of her greatest thrills came at the age of 77, when – knowing it would be the last time – she leapt onto her Flexible Flyer sled and shot down the big hill at Jim Barnett Park to the astonishment of fellow sledders, mostly children. She loved a good view, tracking the phases of the moon and was a strong follower of baseball and tennis. She had boundless curiosity for almost any subject, especially for people's life stories.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the fellowship fund at Westminster Canterbury, to Island Hill Church, Blue Ridge Hospice or by planting a tree in her memory.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Giffin Funeral Home & Crematory. A celebration of life will be held at Westminster Canterbury on December 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow.