Vena Woodward
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6 A Notice - May 16, 2012
Vena Woodward, 90, Grand
Junction, died May 12, 2012, at
Larchwood Inns.
Services are pending with
Martin Mortuary.
Ms. Woodward was a teacher.
Survivors include one son
Jerry Branson of Lakeside, Calif.;
two daughters, Kay Melendy
of Palisade and Zema Chambers
of Grand Junction; one brother,
Dave Shaw of Commerce City;
eight grandchildren; 12 greatgranchildren;
and five greatgreat-
grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to
Hospice & Palliative Care of
Western Colorado, 3090B North
12th St., Grand Junction 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - July 8, 2012
V e n a A . Wo o d w a r d p a s s e d
a w a y p e a c e f u l l y o n Ma y 1 2 ,
2012, at Larchwood Inns.
Vena was born on December 11,
1921, to Arthur and Zema Shaw
in McClave, CO. She was very
musical growing up and enjoyed
playing and singing in ensembles
on live radio. She graduated from
McClave High School at 16 and
Lamar Jr. College at 18. Her first teaching job was at Star School, a
one room school on the eastern Colorado prairie. Her father heard of
a teaching position job over on the West Slope and decided she
couldn't pass it up. She left home to teach in a one room school
house on the mesas above the Plateau Valley.
She married and left for the Northwest as her husband worked in a
logging camp. Her family lived in two train cars - one for living and
one for sleeping. Eventually her family moved back to the
Mesa/Collbran area where she ultimately taught all grades over the
course of 41 years. From the rigors of High School Band (there
wasn't anyone else to teach it at the time) to refereeing softball every
day at lunch recess for the fifth and sixth graders, there were
very few students in the Plateau Valley who were not influenced by
her. She taught several generations of families over her career. After
school hours were filled with planning and correcting papers. Her
home often exuded the sweet sounds of students rehearsing for Solo
& Ensemble contests. Playing piano and organ duets was a favorite
part of serving at the Collbran Congregational Church. She enjoyed
accompanying the Crystal Crackers, a women's vocal ensemble.
Their rich camaraderie and talented musical shows brought her great
joy. Throughout the years, she continued her education by completing
two-three week "intensives" each summer at Western State College.
Delta Kappa Gamma, a sorority for women teachers, was a
source of great pride for her as she continued to give into education
even in her later years.
Her children include Kay (Perry) Melendy, Jerry (Sue) Branson,
Chuck (Donna) Woodward and Zema (Bruce) Chambers. She had
ten grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was especially proud of living to enjoy her
great-great-grandchildren!
A Celebration of her Legacy will be shared at New Horizons Foursquare
Church, 641 Horizon Drive in Grand Junction on July 14th at
10:30 a.m. Dress in bright colors and, if possible, bring a new or
gently used children's book to be given away. If you have a favorite
memory to share, please be sure to bring it.
The family would like to thank the staff at Larchwood Inns as well
as Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado for their wonderful
support and care.
