Obituary of Mary Woodruff Williams

Mary Williams (Woodruff), 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township. A lifelong resident of Freehold, Mary was born in Englishtown, NJ to Dr. Ralph G. Woodruff and Frances Woodruff (Dutton). She was a graduate of Freehold High School, and graduated with her undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1965. She also received her Masters in Education from Monmouth University in 1981. She was employed for over 35 years as a teacher in the Freehold Township school system, teaching multiple grade levels throughout her career. Her favorite subjects to teach were always History, English and Creative Writing. Mary was a member of Colts Neck Reformed Church, and had an unrivaled passion for her expansive garden. She also spent summers with her family for over 40 years on Mount Street beach in Bay Head, and was obsessive about crossword puzzles and Duke University basketball. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Leonard B. III, or “Mike” as he is known, her two sons, Christopher, and his wife Dana, and Dana’s son Michael of Norwich CT, and Ian and his wife, Kathleen Peters of Ambler, PA, her brother, Ralph D. Woodruff and his wife Nancy of Winston-Salem, NC, her sister Marjorie Lee and her husband Bob Sinkiewicz of Ipswich, MA, her niece, Emily Burg of Inver Grove Heights, MN, and nephews Blake Woodruff of High Point, NC, and Seth Woodruff of New York City, as well as several grand nieces and nephews. Higgins Memorial Home of Freehold will be in charge of arrangements, and interment will be at Old Tennent Cemetery in Manalapan. Details of a public celebration of life will follow. As Mary would always say, “flowers are for the living, and not the deceased” To help us honor her wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 County Road 537, Colts Neck, NJ 07722.