Elaine Vifquain Woodard Bath's Obituary
Link for Live Stream: youtube.com/live/DLF-XMu9zfw Elaine Vifquain Woodard Bath, 95, of Ames, Iowa (formerly of Davenport, Iowa) passed away peacefully February 9th at Bethany Life in Story City, Iowa. Cremation rites have been accorded. A visitation service with family will be held at Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave., Ames, Iowa on Monday, March 13th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14th in the Church sanctuary. Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting with arrangements. Born to Professor Russell and Zola Vifquain on March 14, 1927, in Ames, Iowa, Elaine was the third oldest child of four. She attended schools in Ames and graduated from Ames High School in 1945. Elaine attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, and she graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Child Development in 1949. During college at the U of I, she met Richard (Dick) Woodard of Fort Dodge, Iowa and they were married from 1950 to 1969. The couple resided in Davenport, Iowa where they had two children, Kristine Woodard and Craig Woodard, and Elaine taught elementary education in the Davenport Public Schools. Elaine later returned to Ames where she obtained her M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from Iowa State University in 1974. She taught First Grade at Abbie Sawyer Elementary School in Ames from 1969 to 1987. She loved teaching and was an enthusiastic supporter and advocate for the Environmental Curriculum Opportunities (ECO) program. Through her involvement in ECO, she was motivated to participate in Outward Bound, the 23 day mountain wilderness survival program that equipped teachers with a head full of ideas for bringing nature to life in the classroom. It was upon a presentation at the Kiwanis Club for Outward Bound that she met her second husband of 37 years, Professor John Bath. They enjoyed many years traveling the world together, dancing, going to ISU sports and events, music, dancing, outside activities and socializing with groups of lifelong friends. Further interests of hers were tap dancing under the direction of Betty Toman, knitting and memberships in various organizations. In addition to interacting with young children and helping other people, she deeply loved her family and extended family, and she was especially proud of her brother Major Russell M. Vifquain Jr. for sacrificing his life for country during WW II. Elaine earned her 50-year pin from PEO, she was a lifelong member of Ames Collegiate Presbyterian Church, and the Davenport First Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Zola Vifquain, brothers Russ Jr, Robert and Ned Vifquain, and husbands John Bath and Richard Woodard. Those left to honor her memory include daughter Kristine E. Woodard (Davenport, IA); her son, Craig R. (Janis) Woodard (Belle Mead, NJ), two granddaughters, Mackenzie J. Woodard and Kelsey N. Woodard, and five nephews and three nieces. The family would like to thank Dr. Debra Prow at McFarland Clinic, the staff of At Home Care LLC, Bethany Life, and Suncrest Home Health & Hospice for the loving and patient care given to Elaine. Memorial contributions may be directed to: Reiman Gardens (Ames, Iowa); and the Collegiate Presbyterian Church (Ames, Iowa). Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcreamtioncare.com
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