Bobbie Banks Woodard

© The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

Submitted by: Sandi Carter

Bobbie Banks Woodard
July 26, 1920 - Sept. 12, 2006

Bobbie Banks Woodard was born in Hess, Oklahoma on July 26, 1920 into the pioneer famiy of Clarence and Ollie Banks. She passed away September 12, 2006.

Her grandfather, Sam Banks, was the Jackson County (Oklahoma) sheriff. As a child, she would go to the top of the county jail to visit her grandpa since that is where the sheriff and his family lived.

Bobbie was present during an attempted jail break. As was the custom of those times, the sheriff's famiy was not to be injured during any such attempt. The breakout was foiled by Sheriff Banks and his deputies.

She worked in the first self-service grocery store in Altus, Oklahoma.

Later, during World War II, Bobbie worked for McDonald Douglass as a "Rosie the Riveter" where she built C-47 and B-25 bombers.

A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, she attended the Thomas Street church in Altus for many years before moving to Bakersfield in 2003 when she began attending Westside Church of Christ.

Bobbie married Royden Woodard, who died in 1978. She lived in Bakersfield with her daughter, Jayne Lee. She had two other children, Julie Ketcham of LIttle Rock, Arkansas and Dean Woodard of Washington, D.C. She had eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Bobbie's family would like to thank the staff at Glenwood Gardens and Hoffman Hospice along with Dr. Edward Nichols for their loving and tender care.

Services will be held in Altus, Oklahoma on Friday, September 22, 2006.

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