ELIZABETH RANDOLPH "Betsy" WOODARD died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Monday, September 29, 2008 in Houston, Texas. Betsy was born January 24, 1922 in Dallas, Texas to Elizabeth Ann King and Ridgely Bennett Randolph. She spent her childhood in Houston and her teenage years in California, graduating form Beverly Hills High School. Remaining in California through World War II she worked in an airplane factory as an under-aged Jeep driver. Following the war her family returned to Dallas, where she became a runway model for Neiman Marcus and one of the famous "Dior Models" in New York City. It was there she married Donald Earl Woodard on May 29, 1948. They moved to Houston in 1952. Betsy devoted her life to her husband and extended family. She was equally devoted to her children's friends, many of whom thought of her as a second mother. Traveling was her passion; she visited all seven continents. Cruising was her favorite pastime along with painting, her beach houses in Galveston, volunteering at St. Luke's Hospital, and the Houston Symphony Guild. She loved and served her church, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, as a member of the Altar Guild for many years. Betsy, we will all miss you. Betsy was preceded in death by her husband, Don, with whom she shared thirty-nine years of marriage, her parents, and her brothers, William Franklin Randolph and Wright Naramore Randolph. She is survived by her son Donald Earl "Woody" Woodard, Jr. and wife, Liz, daughter Elizabeth Woodard Allen, and son Randolph Jay Woodard and wife, Christine; grandchildren Mary Woodard Smith and husband Jonathan, Catherine Woodard Fox and husband Brian, Julia Grace Woodard, Elizabeth Marie Schnake, Michelle Lynn Thornton and husband Thomas, Samantha Jo Bondie, and great-grandson Thomas Gene Thornton. She is also survived by her sisters Myra Randolph Saylor and Nella Randolph Henninger, brother Richard Alfred Randolph, sister-in-law Charlotte Sisson Randolph, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and devoted friend Maria Leal. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 5th of October 2008, at Geo H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas 77057. A Memorial Service will be held at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 6th of October at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77019, with The Reverend Laurens A. Hall, officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Stacy Eastland, Rock Houstoun, Douglas Crockard, Don Randolph, Jon Randolph, David Randolph, Michael Randolph and James Scott Killingsworth. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Houston Symphony at 615 Louisiana, Suite 102, Houston, Texas 77002, or the charity of your choice.

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Published by Houston Chronicle from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5, 2008.