Obituary of
Woody, Janine Foster (Jan)
Janine Foster (Jan) Woody departed this life on April 28, 2015 from complications from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She is survived by her husband, Bruce, brother Paul Foster, Jr., mother Julie Foster, two nephews, Paul Foster III and Scott Foster. Words cannot suffice to explain the loss to her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Foster.
Jan was devoted to her Lord. She died in the arms of her husband looking at a picture of Jesus and hearing his Word, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” She is now in glory with God, and is already thinking about how she can help people in her new life.
Jan attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where she received a B.A. in History and English. She also attended Texas Tech and Texas Wesleyan law schools. She then went on to the University of North Texas where she received her Master of Library and Information Science degree. Her Master’s Degree Thesis on ethnic bibliographies was published in the Wilson Library Journal. She was a Texas Certified Teacher and taught in secondary schools for several years.
Jan was elected to the Board of Dallas County Schools in May, 2005 and has served in that capacity until this year. She chose to not run for reelection and recruited Dr. Paul Freeman to replace her on the Dallas County School board. In her work with Dallas County Schools she was elected to Chair of the Technology Committee, meeting with various ISD boards and superintendents in Dallas County to improve the level of technological service to the ISDs. She was also elected representative to the North Texas Council of Governments and elected by the school board trustees in Region 10 to the Texas Association of School Boards Legislative Advisory Committee.
Jan participated in many activities spanning three decades from Christ United Methodist Church where she volunteered much of her time to teaching and as a former Certified Lay Speaker to being involved in several area chamber of commerce Education Committees. She won volunteer of the year award three times in the Farmers Branch Women’s Club from 1990 to the present. In 2004 she won the volunteer award for her participation on the Garland Asian American Festival committee where she worked as co-chair of entertainment and worked on the underwriting committee. Janine was also a sponsor at the Farmers Branch Adopt-a-Park from 1990.
One of Jan’s favorite activities was performing music and she was a member of Richardson Community Band for nine years. She was proficient in flute and piano.
She loved her country, her community, and all people with whom she came in contact. Over the years Jan has been recognized in her communities as she donated her time to many different organizations. She organized a Town Hall on Crime and Drugs in Farmers Branch in 1990 which was televised on Channel 8 and became a series of town hall meetings. She worked with teens through Suicide and Crisis hotline going into the schools to talk with teens and volunteered as a hotline counselor with Contact Dallas for 13 years. Jan worked as a Channel 13 Auction Volunteer Co-Chair for six years where her team achieved the highest net profit of any PBS auction in the country.
Jan’s political resume stretches from 1994 until the present. Janine has served as precinct chairman since 1994 and has walked her precinct before every Primary and General Election.
Janine Woody served as Headquarters Chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party for about ten years. Janine stated, “I maintained the calendar of events, taught Election Judges, set up the Election Judges, Alternate Judges, and Clerks for the Primary and General Elections, was in charge of ballot security, helped start Republican clubs, and recruited precinct chairs, among other tasks.” She also said, “In 1994, Bruce and I purchased a phone tree to call precinct chairs and advise them of meetings and events. When the phone tree wore out, we purchased another and still make the monthly reminder calls for four Republican clubs.”
Janine fought as hard as a person can fight. Multiple prayers were said daily since her diagnosis in March of 2014. She was the bravest of the brave, her heart was good, she abhorred what she saw as evil, and she was a friend to all. She will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held on a date to be determined. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leukemia Lymphoma Association so that research can continue so that eventually no one will ever have to go through this process again.
- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:38-39
Tribute Wall of Woody, Janine Foster (Jan)
Dear Bruce, What I will always remember Jan for was her tireless dedication to speaking and helping those who did not have a voice.
She was a person who really made a difference with her life.
May I be half the woman she was in my life. She is sorely missed and I am grateful for the time I got to know her. Her light shines now as it did in this life.
Mary Thomas
Thursday October 13, 2022
Dear Bruce, What I will always remember Jan for was her tireless dedication to speaking and helping those who did not have a voice.
She was a person who really made a difference with her life.
May I be half the woman she was in my life. She is sorely missed and I am grateful for the time I got to know her. Her light shines now as it did in this life.
Jan and Bruce have been neighbors for over ten years with our back yards separated by a common alleyway. With Jan’s busy lifestyle she would frequently drive by my back yard with a friendly smile, wave of the hand, or stop for a quick friendly chat; I’ll miss her neighborly friendship. She and Bruce are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
Marty Giehrl
Thursday October 13, 2022
Jan and Bruce have been neighbors for over ten years with our back yards separated by a common alleyway. With Jan’s busy lifestyle she would frequently drive by my back yard with a friendly smile, wave of the hand, or stop for a quick friendly chat; I’ll miss her neighborly friendship. She and Bruce are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
Bruce, You are in my prayers as you learn to live without your Jan who was a very special person to me also.
artie palmer
Thursday October 13, 2022
Bruce, You are in my prayers as you learn to live without your Jan who was a very special person to me also.
Jan was one of the most selfless dedicated people I have ever met.It doesn’t seem possible that she has left us.Grant her eternal rest.
Tim Hoy
Thursday October 13, 2022
Jan was one of the most selfless dedicated people I have ever met.It doesn't seem possible that she has left us.Grant her eternal rest.
Bruce,
Jan was such a lady. Just as recently as four weeks ago, Jan sent me a get-well message after my back surgery. Little did I know she was the one with a serious condition. I thought and hoped she was gaining on that Lymphoma. In the beginning of her diagnosis, I shared with her my own bout with Lymphoma in 2003, hoping to encourage her and give her hope. However, sometimes things just don’t go the way we hope. I am so sad for your loss–and the loss to all of us.
Joyce Luster
Thursday October 13, 2022
Bruce,
Jan was such a lady. Just as recently as four weeks ago, Jan sent me a get-well message after my back surgery. Little did I know she was the one with a serious condition. I thought and hoped she was gaining on that Lymphoma. In the beginning of her diagnosis, I shared with her my own bout with Lymphoma in 2003, hoping to encourage her and give her hope. However, sometimes things just don't go the way we hope. I am so sad for your loss--and the loss to all of us.
My heart goes out to you Bruce and the family. Mrs. Woody had a heart of Gold, and I know she is heaven watching over you and the family. What a great Woman!!
Eric Brown, Former Principal at Texans Can! CFB
Thursday October 13, 2022
My heart goes out to you Bruce and the family. Mrs. Woody had a heart of Gold, and I know she is heaven watching over you and the family. What a great Woman!!
Please know that we ALL loved Jan as much as we loved our own family. She will be deeply missed by all of us, but we know in our hearts she is at rest and peace woth our Loving savior and Lord. Love you Jan, “Lingy”
Charles Lingerfelt
Thursday October 13, 2022
Please know that we ALL loved Jan as much as we loved our own family. She will be deeply missed by all of us, but we know in our hearts she is at rest and peace woth our Loving savior and Lord. Love you Jan, "Lingy"
Bruce so sorry for your loss. She lived a good life and has contributed well. My condolences.
Rosemarie Budd
Thursday October 13, 2022
Bruce so sorry for your loss. She lived a good life and has contributed well. My condolences.
Bruce,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Lifting you in prayer! Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her.
Mary Miller
Thursday October 13, 2022
Bruce,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Lifting you in prayer! Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her.