Barbara Charlene Chesney

Woodard

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Barbara Charlene Chesney Woodard

Feb 08 1930 - Dec 25 2014

Barbara Charlene Chesney Woodard, a pioneer Texas nurse who became the first Director of Nursing at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas (PHD) in 1965, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2014. Born on February 08, 1930 in Rocky, Oklahoma to Charles Earnest Chesney and Edna Geneva Sanders Chesney, she married Carson T. Woodard in 1948, who died in 1962.

Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1960, and a Master of Science in Counseling from Texas Woman’s University in 1962. In 1971, she completed her Doctorate in Psychology at the University of North Texas. During her time at PHD, she led a nursing team that became a model for Texas, setting standards and accepting nothing less than exemplary patient care by every nurse on her staff. As a result, PHD became nationally and internationally recognized for excellence in patient care under her leadership.

A positive influence and role model for nurses throughout the country, Barbara was a patient, caring and compassionate person. Receiving many honors over the years, Dr. Woodard was appointed to the State Board of Nurse Examiners in 1975 by then Governor of Texas, Dolph Briscoe. She also was honored by “Women Helping Women” for her nursing leadership, in particular the encouragement and help she gave to other women in the health care field. Additionally she was named Time Magazine “Woman of the Year” and the Barbara Woodard Excellence in Nursing Endowment Fund was established in her honor at Texas Health Resources (THR). The Nurse of the Year award that began in 2013 at THR Presbyterian Dallas is named in Barbara’s honor.

A great fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Barbara faithfully attended every home game during the Tex Schramm and Tom Landry era. She loved music and served as choir director at the Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Dallas before joining Highland Park Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and doing needlepoint.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Deana (Chesney) Duncan; brother, Jerrell Chesney; nephews, Charles Chesney, Timothy Giblet, Mitchell Chesney, Mark Chesney, and Brent Chesney; nieces, Shirley (Chesney) Snyder, Denise Duncan, Damaris (Giblet) Dobbs, Elizabeth (Giblet) Diffendaffer, Melissa Ruth Chesney, Marquita (Chesney) Prescott; many grandnieces and grandnephews; and, two sisters-in-law, Peggy (Bergman) Chesney and Joyce (Thornton) Chesney.

In addition to her husband,she was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Edna Chesney; sister, Jo Ada (Chesney) Giblet; two brothers, Charles Damon Chesney and Albert (Bert) Lovell Chesney; niece, Jamie (Duncan) Jacobs; nephew, Brad Chesney; and, brother-in-law, James Duncan.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North at Ridgeview Drive (Exit 38A), Allen, TX 75013. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. A reception at 3:30 p.m. will follow the burial at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Farewell special lady. Rest in peace.

Donations can be made to: THRF, Barbara Woodard Excellence in Nursing Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 200038, Arlington, TX 76006.

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