Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Ramona passed away peacefully on March 23, 2017 at her daughter\s home at age 99. She was born August 3, 1917 in Hyrum, Utah to John Edward White and Esther Lindell. Ramona spent her early childhood with her only brother, Harold (Hack), in St. Anthony, Idaho surviving cold winters, small pox, and whooping cough as her father worked for Indian Affairs. She often talked about being pulled or carried across the river to go to church and that her mother was instructed to move before the harsh conditions killed her children. Moving back to Utah, she attended Forest Elementary and Irving Junior High, and lived on Ramona Avenue. At age 14, Ramona moved to San Diego, where she met her first love, attended high school and her first prom. After one year, her family returned to Salt Lake where she graduated from South High School in 1934.
Ramona received a BA with honors in Sociology and Economics and a secondary teaching certificate from the University of Utah in 1938. She made many fond memories through her involvement in The Spurs and as a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority where she proudly received the Outstanding Senior Girl Award. She spent time teaching at East High, Cyprus High and in a one-room school in Myton, Utah. She gave up her teaching career to marry George L. Boyer and moved to California. World War II brought many changes and she returned home to give birth to her first son, Craig M. Boyer. Ramona later divorced and spent several years as a social worker. She married John Fletcher Woodhead (Jack) in 1947 and together they raised Craig and had two more children, Scott and Shauna. They built their home on Skyline Drive where they raised their children and created many fond memories. Craig died at the age of 38 in 1981. Jack died suddenly in 1991 and Ramona cherished their home, living there independently for over 25 years.
Ramona enjoyed a lifetime of service to many community organizations. During WWII, she worked in the Red Cross Hospital Services. She served as PTA President of Hillside Jr. High and Highland High School, Utah State PTA 3rd and 4th Vice President, Chair of the State PTA Legislative Committee and Health Commissioner, and was awarded the PTA Life Membership for distinguished service. She was President of the Utah Citizens League of Nursing, Fort Douglas Hidden Valley Country Club Woman\s Association, Alpha Chi Omega Mother\s Club, Women\s Legislative Council of Utah, and a member of the Assistance League of Utah. She served as Providence President of Alpha Delta Pi for ten years and was awarded Alpha Delta Pi Alum of the Year award, and was Salt Lake City Panhellenic Woman of the Year. Ramona was also a member of the Utah Chapter of the March of Dimes for seventeen years, and served as State National Co-Advisor. She worked diligently, helping organize the Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition. As a member of the LDS Church, she served in the Relief Society and as a Primary teacher.
Ramona was very social. She belonged to several bridge clubs and loved her lifetime associations with close friends. Her self-proclaimed hobby was world traveling. She loved beautiful things including fine china, bright flowers, elegant jewelry, and fragile figurines from around the world. She was an avid reader of all types of books, the Time magazine, Smithsonian magazine and the daily newspaper from which she often shared her knowledge and insight with her grandchildren.
We express a special thanks to family who gave service willingly wherever needed and for the loving care provided by Silverado Hospice staff Terra, Mia, Jeremy, Daniela, and Molly. We will all miss her loving smile, keen mind, amazing life stories, and gentle hugs.
Survived by her son, Scott F. (Jeanette Bennion) Woodhead ; daughter, Shauna (Dan) Kinnersley; grandchildren, Matthew Woodhead, Travis (Mindy) Kinnersley, Holly (Chris) Curtis, Heidi (Dave) Miner, Natalie (Trent) Young, and Kjersti Kinnersley; 14 beloved great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, son, parents, brother and infant sister.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Friday, March 31, Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary (2350 East 1300 South). Friends/family may visit Thursday, March 30 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Valley View 1st Ward Chapel (2000 East 3900 South) and at the Mortuary one hour prior to the funeral service. Internment at Larkin Sunset Lawn.
