KATHLEEN WOODFORD

03/18/1946 – 02/13/2024

From West Richland, WA/Born in Pensacola, FL

Kathleen Woodford passed away on February 13, 2024, peacefully in her West Richland, WA home at the age of 77. Born to Herman Lumire and Eula Mae Gibson on March 18, 1946, in Pensacola, FL. Kathleen was the eldest of five. The family are proud members of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians.

She grew up in Century, FL, where she developed her love for gardening, farming, and the outdoors. She met her future husband, Delbert (Woody) Woodford who was enlisted in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Pensacola, FL. They married just two days after her 18th birthday. After Woody was honorably discharged from the Navy, she moved with him to the Northwest and landed in Tri-Cities, WA in 1975, ultimately purchasing land and making their forever home on Woodford Ln, in West Richland, WA. They were married for 49 years until his passing in 2013.

Kathleen sometimes had to work 2-3 jobs to take care of her family while Woody experienced layoffs as a union carpenter, but she didn’t mind. She was proud of the positions she held as a grocery deli employee, hotel housekeeper, corrections facility cook, and union janitor at the Hanford site, where she retired. One of her most impactful roles, was the years she spent babysitting her young grandchildren, nurturing their curiosity and teaching the value of a fresh picked garden carrot. She and Woody enjoyed RV trips to Mardon Resort for camping and fishing, along with going to Wildhorse Casino, for gambling and good food. After Woody’s passing, she loved her luscious flower gardens, Koi pond, and her community of nature’s critters; including squirrels and birds.

Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents, her youngest son, Duane Allen Woodford, and her forever husband, Delbert (Woody) Woodford. She is survived by her sons; Donnie (Robin) Woodford, and Terry (Shawn) Woodford, and her daughters; Merry Mercer and Rebecca (Chris) Kopp. Her brothers; Jerry (Marie) Gibson and Harold (Kim) Gibson, and her sisters; Nancy (Robert) Rueb and Carolyn Moye along with 16 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Kathleen was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandma, sister, and friend. She was extremely passionate regarding her family, with a sense of humor that will be dearly missed by all that truly knew her. Viewing will be Monday, February 26, 2024 from 2pm-5pm at Einan’s Funeral Home in Richland, WA. Her celebration of life funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 10am-11am including live streaming at SunsetGardensTri-Cities.com. Graveside services will follow from 11am-12pm. A luncheon reception will then be held at Memories of Sunset Event Center from 12pm-3pm.