Bobbie Woodard

Bobbie Ann Woodard, 91, passed away Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at her home in Cape Girardeau.

Bobbie Woodard

Bobbie Woodard

She was born Aug. 22, 1932, in Bear Spring, Tennessee, but her family moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, where she started school. Most of her elementary years were spent there and in Cairo, Illinois, but as the family moved, she attended several rural schools before graduating as the only eighth grade student in Miller City, Illinois. Bobbie was also baptized that year in Cairo Baptist Church.

Her family moved to McClure, Illinois, where she graduated from McClure High School. It was there she met her future husband, Jack Woodard, at a Sunday afternoon baseball game. They were married Feb. 25, 1950, in Cabot, Arkansas, while visiting his parents. They lived and raised their two daughters in McClure and moved to Cape Girardeau in 1991.

Bobbie began her career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. as an operator before dial conversion. She was also a drafting clerk and records clerk, and later became the first female engineer in the district. She declined promotions and transfers so her family could stay in the area and retired in 1986 as facilities engineer after 34 1/2 years of service. After the death of her husband, Bobbie worked for Star Communications Answering Service and retired again in 2007.

In 1969, Bobbie joined Beta Sigma Phi sorority and formed a strong bond with her chapter and sorority sisters, some of whom have been together over 50 years. She also made many friends playing golf at the Cape Girardeau Country Club, especially at the ladies' events, where she once won a gold putter for a hole-in-one.

She was an avid cook and especially liked to bake treats for her family and friends. Family favorite dishes were her fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, baked ham, dressing and her cooked-all-day spaghetti sauce. Friends looked forward to her birthday cakes and holiday open house dishes.

She loved to read newspapers, magazines and her Bible, and was very good at crossword puzzles. If her TV was on in the evening, it was either a Hallmark movie or Cardinals baseball game.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, in 1992; her parents; and three brothers.

She is survived by her daughters, Gail (Ronnie) Meystedt of Carrollton, Texas, and Marilyn (Jeff) Pind of Cape Girardeau; grandchildren, Mark (Ami) Ballance Pind, Max (Kristin) Pind and Wes (Erin) Pind, all of Cape Girardeau, and Megan (Ben) Davis, Mallory Meystedt and Kristina Meystedt, all in Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Bobbie always said she hoped to be remembered as a good mom, good grandma and good friend. Her favorite times were when she was surrounded by family and friends.

Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Bobbie Woodard memorial account, c/o Alliance Bank, 217 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.