Valerie Frances Woodcock

Valerie was born in Croydon, England, just before the declaration of World War II. She grew up with older siblings, Sylvia and Michael. Her father, Frank Gubbins was away from home most of the war, and her mother Marjorie raised Michael and Valerie through the difficult war years with a confidence and grace that Valerie inherited. She was educated at Old Palace School in Croydon and studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London during her high school years.  She completed her nursing training at London’s prestigious Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital and enjoyed the city location with its many opportunities to enjoy the visual and performing arts. After qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1962 she undertook post-graduate surgical nursing studies in Bristol. She married David Woodcock in 1964, becoming mother to his infant son Jonathan, and spent two years in Texas while David was a visiting faculty member at Texas A&M. Daughters Frances and Penny were born in 1965 and 1970.  Her interest and training in early childhood education began at a Quaker school in Canterbury, England where the family lived for four years. After the family moved back to the United States in 1970 she taught at the Saint Thomas Early Learning Center, serving as the Head of School from 1988 until her retirement in 2000.  Her belief in, and advocacy for, the principles of the school helped to shape the lives of countless children and teachers. She was also a tireless supporter of David’s teaching career at Texas A&M, hosting end of semester student gatherings that remain special memories for three generations of Architecture students. In later years she was able to join David at professional meetings and made many friends in the Association for Preservation Technology International, serving as social planner for the conference in Galveston in 2004. Her civic activities included early education organizations, and the MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society, where she played a leading role in the development of OPAS, Jr., a program to introduce the performing arts to young audiences and served as President of OPAS in 2000. Growing up with BBC radio, she was a founding supporter of KAMU FM and TV, assisting with fundraising, and had her own children’s story program for many years. Her support for music in the Brazos Valley continued with her fund-raising work for the Brazos Valley Symphony Society for which she served as a Board member and Secretary. She was a recipient of the “Andy” Anderson Award from the Brazos Valley Arts Council. In 2004 she and daughter Penny established U Paint-It Pottery, that has become gathering-space for clients of all ages. She has been an active member of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church since 1964, serving as the Senior Warden on two occasions. Valerie enjoyed reading, art, cooking and good food, conversation, and music, especially grand opera at the Paris Opera, Covent Garden, London, the Metropolitan Opera, New York, and as a patron member of the Houston Grand Opera for many years. Travel and the memories it creates were always important, notably a road trip from Texas to Canada and down the East Coast and southern states in 1965, travels to the United Kingdom to see family over many years, trips to Europe, and family visits to Japan, Korea and Hawaii as son Jon’s military career took him, and  his wife Tracey and their children, Ian, Caden and Kathleen, across the world.  Frances and her wife Denise Cumming provided warm welcomes in the Northwest of the United States and in Knoxville, Tennessee. Penny’s career in student life added visits to campuses in South Carolina, Arizona, Dallas and Fort Worth. Penny and her husband Kirk Bane now live in College Station. Valerie is survived by David, her husband of sixty years, their children and family named above, by Michael Bishop and Pauline Holmes of Clifton Park, NY uniquely family and treasured friends, by nieces and nephews in the United Kingdom, Nick and Trish, Jane and Kevin, John and Vicky, Katie and Critch, Ben and Emily, Stuart and Ruth, Fiona and Nigel, and their families. She is also survived by her many cherished friends in the community and across the continent. A Celebration of Life will be held at Saint Thomas on Friday, 29 November at 11:00 am, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Please wear bright colors! Gifts in her memory may  be directed to the Saint Thomas Early Learning Center (stthomaselc.org) or to a charity of your choice. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Centers of Bryan-College Station. Express condolences with the family at www.CallawayJones.com.