June 4, 1940 – May 10, 2023
Atwood (Woodie) Westmoreland De Wandeleer, 82, of Palmer Alaska, passed away May 10, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born June 4, 1940 in Asheville, North Carolina to Joseph Robert Westmoreland and Margaret Elizabeth Fleming.
A lifelong teacher, Woodie had a masters degree in early education and worked at many schools in North Carolina, Arizona, and Alaska. Her love of teaching and children led her into the special needs field where she worked with handicapped and severely involved children for more than 40 years. From her early years in teaching Woodie’s dream was to move to Alaska and teach. She realized her dream in 1997 and lived in Alaska until just before her death. Woodie retired from teaching in 2014 and remained in Alaska to enjoy the beauty and her love of the outdoors.
When she passed, her daughter Jennifer Halstead of Canton, NC and her son Ian Halstead of Gold Canyon, AZ were by her side. In addition to her two children Woodie is survived by her brother, Joseph Robert Westmoreland II and his wife Ramona, of Asheville, NC, three grandchildren, five great-grand children, four nieces and nephews, and many more loving family members.
She was preceded in death by her husband Claude Gaston Roger De Wandeleer, of Palmer AK, originally from Belgium.
Woodie was a fervent supporter of US Military Veterans and donated to many veteran organizations including the USO, MusiCorps, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. In lieu of cards or flowers the family requests that donations be given to one of these organizations in her memory.
