Carol Woodruff

Virginia “Carol” Berends Woodruff died Wednesday, March 20, 2024 of Acute Liver failure. Carol was born May 18, 1943 at home in rural Beaver County, Oklahoma to Kirby V. Berends and Katherine S. Miller Berends. At the age of 10, she became a big sister with the arrival of her cherished sister, Sandy. Carol was raised in the Englewood area, living west of town on “The Hill” and later at the Cottie Davis place. Her playmates were her only cousins, the Whisenhunt kids; being particularly close to Olen, Bernice and Nancy. She loved spending time at their home as the Whisenhunt kids often sang together. Carol and Olen Whisenhunt spent many happy hours at their grandparents’ home, eating their Grandma’s home cooked meals. Homemade noodles were one of Carol’s favorite snacks, until she mistook shaved lye soap for noodles. Lye noodles were not as tasty as egg noodles.  She attended school in Englewood where she made a life-long friendship with Faye Anne Smith Ediger. Graduating in 1961, Carol attended college at Garden City Community College where she earned her Associates Degree.

On November 2, 1962, Carol was married to H. Eugene Woodruff in Englewood. The couple finished college and made their first home in Dodge City. Their family was complete with the addition of their two children, Shelly Jo and Steven Eugene. The family moved to Ashland, Ks in 1965, eventually settling down in Englewood where they lived until 2021 when they moved to Minneola, Ks.

Carol held several jobs through her adulthood, from working at her Aunt Lela’s café to working at both the Gambles store and the Jack and Jill in Ashland. Once she moved to Englewood, she drove the school bus, worked at the Post Office and found her 30-year career working at the Grain Elevators in Englewood, eventually becoming the manager. She was one of the first female elevator managers in the industry. Carol also served as City Treasurer for the City of Englewood for over 40 years, retiring in 2021. Not many were aware of the number of city bills Carol personally paid for those in need or those going through hard times, quietly helping those she could. From her father, she inherited a love of animals, particularly cats. She fed practically every cat in Englewood and always had a house cat. From her mother, she inherited a love of reading which she shared not only with Eugene, but also with her children and grandchildren. Money might have been tight most of her life, but there was always money for books. From her Grandma and her Aunt Lela, she learned how to be a good cook becoming the family pie baker, making her Coconut Cream, Cherry, Pecan and Butterscotch pies for every family gathering.

Carol is survived by her husband of 61 years, Eugene Woodruff, her children, Shelly Huelsman (Kevin) of Bucklin; Steven Woodruff of Ellinwood, Kansas, her grandchildren, Andrew Huelsman (Tiara), Katherine Hadley (Kyle), Cody Woodruff, and Austin Woodruff (Madisen); great-grandchildren, Addysen German, Presley Reid, Braxtyn Huelsman and Koy Hadley; her sister, Sandra Purinton (Wayne), her sister-in-law, Ruby Woodruff and Joan Woodruff,  special cousins Olen Whisenhunt, Bernice Bogle & Nancy Walter and many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00AM Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Englewood Cemetery in Englewood Kansas. 

Memorials may be sent to the Englewood Fire Department or to the City of Englewood. In lieu of flowers, The family has suggested memorials to the Englewood Fire Department or to the city of Englewood.