Nancy A. Woodall

1928 - 2023

Nancy Anne Woodall entered eternal rest Friday, July 28, 2023, in her home of 44 years, in Mesa, Ariz. She was 95 years old and the last surviving of her five older siblings. Nancy was born Jan. 12, 1928, in the beloved home of the Piper family in a small railroad town called Trafford, near Pittsburgh. She grew up there during difficult economic times, especially after her father died when she was 10, and later when older siblings left the nest in search of work or marriage or military service. Despite those struggles, Nancy had fond memories of her years in Trafford and shared many, many stories about them. Nancy graduated from Trafford High School in 1945. Her senior class voted her Senior Girl Most Likely to Succeed and Most Intelligent Senior Girl; and she served on the yearbook editorial staff. Nancy and her mom left Trafford shortly thereafter and moved to Virginia so Nancy could take a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation searching fingerprints. That began her stellar federal government career in Washington, D.C., which included managing classified records for the Department of Defense War Records Division and the Atomic Energy Commission mail room, and later in life, contracts management with DOD in Arizona. She completed college coursework in both D.C. and later in Mesa, Ariz. Nancy met her husband, Paul B. Woodall, at work at the AEC, where he was a budget analyst. During their courtship, they enjoyed bowling together, office dances and late-night Chinese food. They married in 1956, built a home in the suburbs of Rockville, Md., and filled it in short order with seven children: at various times, Dad's two older children from a previous marriage and five of their own, beginning with a set of twins in 1958. Nancy settled into a busy domestic life of running a household and volunteering her time as lunch mom, field trip chaperone, carpool driver, scout leader, day camp counselor and costume seamstress. In 1972, Paul retired and he and Nancy moved the family to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where life for Nancy and Paul became an adventure of desert exploration, rockhounding, gem shows and silversmithing. In 1976, the family relocated to Tempe, Ariz., and Paul and Nancy built their beautiful final home in Mesa, Ariz., in 1979. Nancy was an avid reader and curious about anthropology, archaeology, indigenous populations, mythology, genealogy and geology. She never lost her love for railroads, especially the PRR, and was an engaging storyteller. She had great affinity towards the many family pets, especially cats, especially her last cat, Durango. Some of her happiest memories were the family trips to Nags Head, N.C., where she walked the quiet beach at sunrise before all the activities of the day began. She loved her collection of lighthouses inspired by the Outer Banks. A week before her passing, Nancy shared, "I had an excellent life!" Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved parents, John Luther and Edith Piper; her siblings, John, James, Mary, Betty and William; her husband of 54 years, Paul B. Woodall; her son, Lawrence Morgan Woodall; and her stepson, Paul B. Woodall Jr. Nancy is survived by her sons, James Piper Woodall and David Owen Woodall (Tawny Carlson); her daughters, Eolia "Lia" Ann Woodall (Ken Vogel) and Jennifer Lynn Woodall; and her stepdaughter, Marjorie K. Shannon; her grandson, Devin I. Vogel; her granddaughter, Rebecca M. Wall (Matt Wall), and her great-grandson, Sanders T. Wall; her nephew, Bob Murphy Jr.; and her niece, Cindy Piper (Mark Piper). Nancy will be going home to Trafford, and interred in the Piper family plot at Grandview Cemetery. No services will be held. The family is indebted to the many devoted caregivers Nancy had in her home: Charlene, Kristi, Jacque, Mattie, Millie, Erma, LaShonda, Diana and Crystal. The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Trafford Historical Society, Attn: Andrew Capets, 416 Brinton Ave., Trafford, PA 15085.