Laura Elsie Woodward, 94, formerly of Cornish died January 13, 2010 at the Historic Homes of Runnemede, The Evarts House in Windsor, VT.

She was born in Cornish, NH on December 5, 1915, the daughter of James and Laura (Skinner) Fitch and had resided in Cornish, NH most of her life. She lived at Hillside Terrace in Claremont for eight years prior to moving to Windsor in 2003.

She attended Cornish Elementary School and graduated in 1934 from Kimball Union Academy in Plainfield, NH.

In 1935, she worked for Walter Holmes of Georges Mills for four years taking care of his children as his wife was ill.

Mrs. Woodward is a former member of the Georges Mills Grange, the Claremont Grange, the Cornish Grange, the Park Grange #249 of Cornish Flat, the Cornish Historical Society, the Home Demonstration Club, Friends of the Stowell Library in Cornish where she received a plaque for 25 years for volunteering and was a 4-H sewing leader.  She was a member of the United Church of Cornish, where she taught Sunday school and ran the Vacation Bible School.  She accompanied her husband to Enfield Center for nine years where he was a lay preacher.  In later years, she made crafts and sold them at the church suppers, the money went towards sending children to Camp Sentinel which is a Christian camp. She loved to sew making many of her daughter’s dresses. 

She was the widow of Joseph B. Woodward whom she married on January 21, 1945 and he died on April 15, 1993.

The surviving family includes one daughter, Katherine Grace Lynds of Plymouth, VT; one son, Stanley George Woodward of Claremont; two grandchildren, Joseph Lynds and Elizabeth Lynds;  three great-grand-children, Jonathan, Jacob and Joshua Lynds; one sister, Bernice May Johnson of Cornish Flat; one brother, Howard Fitch of Sylmar, CA and nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was pre-deceased by a step-daughter, Mary Jean Reynolds; two sisters, Bethena Wooten and Clara Jean Fitch; two brothers, Orville B. Fitch and Wendell G. Fitch.

Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont on Friday evening from 7 to 8 PM.

A memorial service will be held Saturday January 16, 2010 at 3:30 pm at the Historic Homes of Runnemede, The Evarts House, Windsor, VT.

A Memorial gathering for Laura Elsie Woodward, 94, formerly of Cornish who died January 13, 2010 at the Historic Homes of Runnemede, The Evarts House in Windsor, VT., will be held Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 12:30pm on School Street in Cornish Flat, NH. Come share dessert and memories. A graveside service will follow at 2pm at Mill Cemetery in Meriden, NH.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Labre Indian School, % Dir. Curtis Werlott, 1000 Tongue River Road, Ashland, MT 59003.