[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 100 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF WILMA B. WOODRUFF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2005

  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my 
constituents. On August 10, 2005, Wilma Bane Woodruff will celebrate 
her 100th birthday.
  Born August 10, 1905, in Cameron, West Virginia, Wilma is the 
youngest of three daughters born to William and Clara Fletcher Bane. On 
December 10, 1923, at the age of 18 she and Dorsey Woodruff were 
married. The couple raised four children: Willadeen Johnston, Frank, 
Ada Stimmel, and Eilleen Dobbin and spent 59 years farming in 
Southwestern Pennsylvania.
  After Wilma and Dorsey farmed as tenants for 13 years, they bought a 
325 acre property on the main highway from Pittsburgh to Washington, PA 
The attractive white brick farmhouse and other buildings, lying across 
a deep valley, caught the eye of many travelers. It was here that Wilma 
and Dorsey raised beef cattle and sold hay and straw to manufacturers 
and other farmers. Dorsey was recognized as a Master Farmer in 1951. 
The couple bought two other properties in South Strabane and Hickory, 
PA, and in later years also raised horses. Dorsey passed away in 1982 
and the farm is now the Woodruff Memorial Park.
  Wilma has been a member of the Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church and 
North Strabane Grange for more than 70 years. She was also active in 
the A.A.R.P. and Senior Citizens of Canonsburg.
  At the age of 21 Wilma registered to vote, and she is very proud of 
the fact that she has never missed a year of voting until she was 96 
years old.
  In her life Wilma has accomplished many great things, but perhaps the 
most important was raising her wonderful family of 4 children, 11 
grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you in joining me to celebrate the life of Wilma 
Bane Woodruff. Her life has been a great influence to many people in 
Pennsylvania and across the country.