Mary Ilean S. Woodard's Obituary
Mary Ilean Schwall Meibaum Woodard died on Monday, April 16, 2012 at her home in Lewes, DE surrounded by her family. Born August 17, 1915 in Ty Ty, GA to Haywood Brookins and Willie Lee Schwall (nee Mills).
Raised in Havana, FL she graduated from high school in the Class of 1933. In her junior and senior years she was voted best dressed in her class. She continued to strive to always be in the latest fashion. After graduation she moved to Miami Beach to live with her sister and attend business college and art school. While living in Miami Beach she met and married her first husband Preston Edward Meibaum. They moved from Miami Beach to Georgetown, DE where they operated a business Gas Oil Products located in the now Brick Hotel. Ironically she and the present owner Ed Lester were in the same real estate licensing class.
After the death of her first husband, she moved to Rehoboth Beach and worked at Sea Air for several years. While there she met her second husband Lt. Col. Charles "Bill" W. Woodard. Together they traveled to all the lower 48 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean. They lived in Lewes during the summer and Melbourne Beach, FL in the winter.
Mary Ilean loved to travel, shop and do more shopping, crafts, collecting sea shells, gardening and family. She loved to talk about the south and was a true southern lady. She was preceded in death by her parents Haywood Brookins and Willie Lee Schwall, husbands Preston E. Meibaum and Lt. Col. Charles W. Woodard; eight brothers: Laurie, Marvin, George, Oris, Haywood, Herbert, Bernard and Donald; four sisters: Ollie Bell, Ruby Dell, Nettie Maude, Hazel; and her step-daughter Gertrude Meibaum Rogge.
She leaves behind to mourn her daughter Priscilla A. "Pam" Meibaum-Smith and husband Michael Smith of Seaford; grandson Michael R. Meibaum of Seaford; step-son Charles W. Woodard, Jr. of Riverdale, MD; step-daughters: Susan Crompton-Maddox of Darnestown, MD and Sandy Campbell of Berkley Springs, WV; and step-granddaughter, Sandy Long of Silver Springs, MD. Also Terry Warrington a faithful lady (she was like a granddaughter) who called her every day to check on her all through the years.
The family would like to thank VITAS Hospice, the devoted nurses, Chaplin, social worker and her aide for the past two years Bert Jackson who helped her daughter to allow Mom to remain at home.
Mary Ilean was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Lewes, DE.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes with Pastor Fred Duncan officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Mom was a bright and colorful person who refused to dress in black if possible. She always wore bright colors so if you would like to wear bright colors to her service please feel free to do so. She is probably singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at this moment slightly off key.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 129 W. 4th Street, Lewes, DE 19958 or to VITAS Hospice, 1016 N. Walnut Street, Milford, DE 19963.
Please visit Mrs. Woodard's Life Memorial webpage to sign her online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
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