Gladys T. Woodin

Gladys Ruth Tedford Woodin passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024, a day after her 103rd Birthday after a period of declining health.

 She was born on September 17, 1921 at the family farm on Birch Mountain in Manchester, CT. She was the daughter of John Joseph Tedford and Frances Rose Volkert. She was the middle child of 9 children.

She attended the Bolton School which was a one room school house. In third grade she and her siblings were transferred to the Manchester School System when the Bolton School went through several teachers during the first few weeks of school. Bolton School was a mile up the road and she would often talk about walking 5 miles one way to and from school.

She graduated from Manchester High School in Manchester, CT in the Class of 1939.

Before World War II she was employed as a maid for Mrs. Cheney of the Cheney Mills in Manchester, CT. She spent one summer in Fenwick, Old Saybrook, CT at their summer home where Mrs. Cheney’s neighbor was the actress, Kathryn Hepburn. Although she never met Kathryn Hepburn, she did meet one of the Westinghouse family’s maids once. She was also later employed as a companion for an elderly lady.

The rest of her working career was mostly in the manufacturing industry. During World War II she worked for Pratt Whitney Aircraft.

In 1949 her youngest sister Louise Randall had an opportunity to go to work for the YMCA/YWCA in Minneapolis, MN and Gladys went with her. She would talk about the cold stinging her legs while waiting for the street car and attending the Presbyterian Church where the Minneapolis Symphany Orchestra was part of the choir. They also took canoe trips down the ST Croix River where a small birch bark canoe trailed behind the canoe they were in. They returned to Connecticut in 1950.

Gladys then went back to work at Pratt Whitney Aircraft where in 1953 she met Charles Arthur Woodin, JR AKA III AKA IV and they were married on July 29, 1955 in Glastonbury, CT. Charles passed away in 1991.

Charles brought to the union 3 children – Charles Arthur Woodin III, (1942 to 2000), Judith Elaine Woodin Howe (1944 to Present) and Martha Gayle Woodin (1949 to Present). In 1961, Charles and Gladys had a daughter named Frances Roseanna Woodin. Charles and Gladys moved to NH to a house in Litchfield, NH that Charles had owned since 1944 after their daughter was born.

While always maintaining their home in Litchfield, Charles reentered Federal Civil Service and they moved to Ridley Township, PA, Cheshire, CT and Hampton, VA returning to Litchfield, NH in 1979.

While living in Hampton, VA Gladys was actively involved in the Homemakers and activities at Buckroe United Methodist Church. 

After they moved back to New Hampshire she was active in the Londonderry Grange #44, Bethany Chapel Community Church, the Cashin Senior Center and the Londonderry United Methodist Church. She was also a member of Good Intent Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in Glastonbury, CT.

She also worked for Armtec Industries for several years before retiring in 1988.

Gladys was an avid reader and would think nothing of reading a 1,000-page book. She was also handy with embroidery, crocheting, and needlepoint among other types of arts and crafts.

In her later years she was an avid national political follower and she was always willing to share her views with you whether you wanted to hear them or not. Her quest was to “save the country” as she would put it.

Gladys also took numerous trips with the Cashin Senior Center, and, with her daughter to various Folsom and Leavitt Reunions as well as other travel adventures. When she was 70 years old, she rode a mule down the Grand Canyon.

In 2017 the Litchfield, NH Historical Society made her an honorary Boston Post Cane winner as being the oldest person living in town.

She is survived by her daughter Frances Roseanna Woodin of Litchfield, NH and, Stepdaughters Judith Howe and Martha Minkler of Michigan. She is also survived by her sister Louise Randall of Lebanon and Marlborough, CT, and, sister-in-laws Deborah Tedford of East Brookfield, MA and Joan Savoie of Winter Garden, FL. She is also survived by her siblings, cousins, sister-in-laws, and step-children’s families as well.

She was predeceased by her siblings Charles Tedford, Donald Tedford, Jane Maneggia, Mary Tedford, Grace Tedford, Pearl Manager, John Tedford, and their respective spouses. She was also predeceased by a niece Elvir Trudy Girard, and two nephews Richard Tedford and Stephen Savoie. She was also the sister-in-law of Virginia Woodin Earhart and Claude Savoie. 

The family would like to thank Courville at Manchester for their patience and care while she was there in her final days.

Visiting hours will be Saturday, September 28th from 9 am to 11 am, followed by a service at 11 am in Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, corner of North St, Manchester, NH.  Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Londonderry United Methodist Church, 258 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH 03053; Londonderry Grange #44, 260 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH 03053; Or an animal rescue organization of your choice.