Frances Hall Woodruff passed away at 91 years of age in Portage, IN, on June 4, 2019. She was born in 1928 in Peoria, IL, to Arlene and William Hall, their third child. The Great Depression led to the children being placed in a series of foster homes and orphanages just to survive. This family breakup was the driving force in her life for having and maintaining an intact family
While attending Bradley University, she met a young, returning war veteran. In July, 1947, she eloped with the love of her life, Vaughn N. Woodruff. After his graduation from law school, they settled in Peoria and had four children. The family moved to Wilmette, IL, in 1961. Fran remained a stay-at-home Mom, but started taking up outside interests like competitive country club tennis, decoupage and quilting. Then, she became one of General Binding Corp. first outside salesperson. Times being what they were, women were only allowed to sell consumables, while the big money business machine sales were reserved for men. Frustrated, she left GBC and began working at a quilt shop. After spending a short time as an employee, she and a partner opened their own quilt shop in Evanston, IL. An excellent seamstress, she soon gained a reputation for her designs, fabrics, hand quilting and needlework. In 1980, she was a cofounder of Illinois Quilters, Inc., a quilters guild, that is soon celebrating 40 years since it’s inception.
The passing of her husband Vaughn, in 2002, led her to move to Northern Indiana to be closer to family. She was also preceded in death by her brother William Robert Hall and her sister Mary Jean Hall Long. She is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held at the home of her daughter, Lisa Woodruff Hedin, in Munster, IN, on July 20, 2019.