Sadly, it seems like we were just here.
The first speech contest oration I did for Gwen was based on the Pledge of Allegiance. She’d get frustrated that I tended to make up my own wording for the speech instead of memorizing it. I told her that the judge wouldn’t have a copy of the script and wouldn’t know any better, but she insisted that they would probably know the actual words to the Pledge of Allegiance so I should at least get that part right.
So…since I always have the feeling that Gwen’s taking notes, I’ll read this to make sure I get it right.
Gwendolyn Annette Woods, 92, of Perry, IL died Thursday, September 27, 2012, at the Pittsfield Manor. She was born May 31, 1920 in Jacksonville, IL the daughter of Robert and Genevieve Dorsey Brim.
She married Mervin Ray Woods on August 20, 1943 in Perry and he preceded her in death in March of this year. She is survived by two sons and two daughters, Roger Woods of Wauwatosa, WI, Kristine Camphouse of Perry, Kerry Woods of Cambridge, NY and Lori Berquist of Perry; eight grandchildren, Daniel Woods of Jersey City, NJ, Martha Grutza of Alexandria, VA, Alex Camphouse of Fairfield, CA, Peter Camphouse of Chicago, David Camphouse of Quincy, Bronwyn Woods of Pittsburgh, PA, Stephen Berquist and Eric Berquist, both of Perry; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Morris of Chenoa, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, James Brim; and a brother-in-law, Virgil Morris. Gwen was a 1938 graduate of Perry High School and 1942 graduate of Illinois College where she was active in the Chi Beta Literary Society, played trombone in the band, member of the field hockey team and continued to be an alumni class agent. Following graduation she taught in Franklin, IL for three years, then taught at Perry High School for 45 years retiring in 1995. 1942 to 1995. Many countries haven’t lasted that long. She taught mathematics, Latin, French and physical education, coached drama and speech, high school girl’s sports and was junior class sponsor. Her influence through education made an impact in many lives, most notably her children who all went on to pursue careers in education. Gwen taught Sunday school at Perry Presbyterian Church and Perry Church of Christ, served as 4-H Leader for over 50 years and was a member of DAR, PTA, Dexter Community Club, Pike County Retired Teachers Association, Perry American Legion Auxiliary and Chautauqua. She enjoyed researching local history and had an interest in genealogy and natural sciences. Those are the facts about Gwen.
And by the way, after my first attempt at a memorized speech she switched me to Extemp speaking where I could make it up as I went along.
Gwen never really was a teacher in the classic sense. She was our mother who just happened to teach math. She was an aunt who taught Latin. She was a next-door-neighbor who directed plays. She knew everything about us so there was no need lying to her. She had our parents’ phone numbers memorized, she had many of our parents in school and therefore knew what caused our behavior, she knew who lived in our house before we got there….and…like a mother…she only wanted the best for us.
Many of us spent the entire day with her. We rehearsed our speeches with her before school, we sat in her math class, her Latin class, and threw dodge balls at each other in her P.E. class then went to play practice with her after school and a 4-H meeting on her front porch at night. We assumed she never slept.
A few months ago I spoke to the student teachers at Western Illinois University…about 300 fresh faces ready to jump into teaching. I began my presentation by reading Gwen’s teaching schedule where she taught seven classes, had no free period, and went home to fix lunch for Mervin …I reminded these new teachers they’re going to have it relatively easy.
An “icon” is a thing that stands for something else. It’s a symbol of something else. In Perry and the Perry schools in particular, it was not the Pioneer or the Pirate or the Tornado… It was Gwen Woods.
Her brother Jim once told me that every successful organization is led by one fanatic at the top. When it came to Perry, Gwen was that fanatic… She was the town’s best spokesman and the school’s most enthusiastic cheerleader.
Gwen was not much into “status” or “rank.” She’d march up to anyone and tell them anything if she felt it needed to be told. The coach, the superintendent, parents, and of course her students. We once had a superintendent at Perry named Mr. Heck. He proposed changing the lunch hour schedule and went around the various classrooms one morning announcing the change. When he announced the new idea in our Latin III class, Gwen interrupted him by saying, “You know that won’t work, don’t you?” He didn’t. And she was right……it didn’t. Any new administrator at Perry soon learned that he could ignore the school board. If he wanted to know how the school runs, ask Gwen.
I once spoke to the Pike County D.A.R. and mistakenly gave the wrong name for one of President Lincoln’s secretaries who designed Pittsfield’s East School. Right in the middle of my speech Gwen said, “No, you’ve got that wrong.” After the speech I jokingly said, “Gwen, couldn’t you have waited until I was done with the speech to correct me privately?” She said, “No, I’d have forgotten it by then.”
IHSA speech competition has no class system. The largest schools compete with the smallest…This is mainly because the IHSA doesn’t really care that much unless they can bounce it or kick it.
Our speech team once made it to Granite City in the sectionals. In my event I was tied with Belleville East. The judges were in the office figuring out how to break the tie and Gwen was in the next room awaiting the results. She heard them say, “The contestants are from Belleville East and Perry.” Another voice asked, “Is Perry one of those small schools?” I think they wanted to gauge the winner’s chance at state. Gwen burst through the door and said, “Perry, Illinois, is a school and it doesn’t matter what size we are. Now do your job like you’re supposed to.” We made it to state.
A person with Gwen’s passion for hometown, for school, for family…inspires that passion in others. This county, this state, this nation…has hundreds of ex-students, of friends, of family who have had that passion fired by Gwen Woods. She taught us how to be loyal..Although she occasionally embarrassed us with her boldness, she taught us how to speak up. I would love to have Gwen as the moderator of the Presidential debates. I can envision her saying, “Barack, stand up straight. Mitt, you know that won’t work, don’t you?”
Gwen could get away with this because we all knew that her motives were pure, that she only wanted the truth….She taught us how to forgive… She inspired us with the desire to learn.
When my class graduated in 1967 we lined up against the west wall of the old gym and Gwen was the first in line to shake our hands. She said, “One of you might be famous some day and I want to be able to say I shook your hand.” It was us…the class of 67 and 68 and 51…and 1995 who were shaking the hand of a person that deserved to be remembered. No matter what your politics, you surely agree with Hillary Clinton’s words that It Takes a Village to Raise a Child. All of us who were raised in a small town know that we were raised by a combination of family, of God’s word, of a community work ethic, of friends… And like Gwen’s teaching schedule, she was all of these things. The scriptures are filled with references that apply to Gwen… From Titus: Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech From Proverbs: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. And, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” We did listen to Gwen. Many of you gained the wisdom that she taught. From Luke: A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. From Romans: Serve God in your teaching. And Paul’s letter to Timothy perhaps sums up Gwen the best: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. I play piano on a paddle wheeler out of Peoria. Last week we had a group of 70 Canadians and I frankly have never met a friendlier group of passengers. I was talking to one elderly lady in their group…from Ontario. I commented on how they were all so much alike in their disposition. “Well,” she said, “We’ve all had a common upbringing, I guess.”
Whether we were her student or granddaughter or classmate or friend, in a way we’ve all had a common upbringing if we knew Gwen Woods and both in large and small part, she will always be a part of who we are.
The last time I talked to Gwen, she sat right there…shook my hand and said, “Thanks for coming.” And now on behalf of the family I say that to all of you. Thanks for coming.
Please pray with me: Father, thank you for models who are living examples of what you want us to be. Thank you for examples of your word made flesh. I ask you to be with Gwen’s family and fill today and these next few days with thanks for having been influenced by your servant, Gwen. Help us to remember that it’s good to miss someone….because they were so worthy of being missed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Graveside: John 3:1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. A bit of chalk dust on a flowered skirt… Algebraic squiggles on a blackboard, now more gray than black. A P.E. whistle draped hurriedly around her neck….hair still mussed from a dusty hour on the ball diamond. “Due tomorrow!” scratched emphatically on the board, underlined three times, circled, then stabbed with the blunt end of the chalk. That glare shot over the top of her glasses and directly into the heart of a sophomore boy who’s two days late with his Latin translation. Ten minutes spent chatting about last night’s game against Meredosia. “We’ll get them next year,” she says. We hope. We probably won’t. Posters on the walls shouting for everyone to attend the Halloween Carnival. A rubber mask draped lazily over the back of the teacher’s chair. George Washington’s gray eyes staring down, guarding the two volleyballs in the corner by the wastebasket. A yellow number two pencil poised behind her right ear as she searches for her pencil. And so Gwen approaches God. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” “Okay,” she says, “Now here are some changes I’d like to make if you don’t mind a little advice.” Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” John: benediction