1927~2016
Gwen passed away quietly at her residence in Niceville, Florida on November 13, 2016.
Gwen was born May 7, 1927 at 9:00 am in Spartanburg, S. Carolina to her parents Jesse Forist and Gladys Dupree who have predeceased her. She was also predeceased by 4 brothers Forist Gleaton Dupree, Charles Dupree, Gary Dupree & Mike Dupree.
Gwen grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, attended Armstrong Junior College in Savannah, Georgia as a Home Economics major. She was awarded the honor of being the Outstanding Senior of 1948. She went on to attend The University of Georgia in Athens, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree. In 1951 Gwen joined the Women’s Medical Specialist Corps as a 2nd Lt Dietitian and was stationed at Madigan Hospital at Fort Lewis, Washington. In that capacity, she met William W. Woolman in 1952 who was hospitalized. She used to joke about meeting her husband for the first time and he was in his pajamas. They were married in Savannah, Georgia on March 29, 1953 where her parents resided and were married for 57 years until the death of her husband on August 27, 2010. When Gwen left the Service she had achieved the rank of 1st Lt. Gwen continued to serve many hospitals and Nursing Homes as their dietitian until her retirement. Many small hospitals would not have gotten their accreditation without her services.
Upon Bill’s retirement as Superintendent of a small school system in Yarbrough, Oklahoma, they moved to Shell Knob, Missouri where they lived for 33 years. Gwen remained in Shell Knob for 2 years after Bill passed away. They were members of the Central Community Methodist Church of Shell Knob for all of the time they resided in Shell Knob.
They had 3 sons, Paul D., Bruce A. and Daniel N. Woolman These three sons joined with Bill's older children Rocky Woolman & Pat Woolman. They had a full house, Christian home filled with love, respect and caring.
Gwen is survived by her sons LTC (Ret) Paul D. Woolman and wife Debbie of Niceville, FL; LTC (Ret) Dr. Bruce A. Woolman and wife Debra of Estes Park, CO; CPT (USAR) Daniel N. (Danny) Woolman and wife Shanda of Lake Wales, FL; Step-Children, COL (Ret) William W. (Rocky) Woolman of Antlers, OK; Patricia A. Brady and husband Dave of Shell Knob, MO. Brothers Ike Dupree and wife Judy of Wake Forest, N. Carolina, Dan Dupree and wife Hoa of Fairborn, OH. Sisters-in-law, Mary Beth Woolman Myers of Ada, OK; Jaline Dupree of Sumter, S. Carolina; Margot Dupree of Ormand Beach, FL and Becky Dupree of Shell Knob, MO. 14 Grandchildren, 23 Great- Grandchildren and 4 Great, Great Grandchildren. Also many loving nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016. Following services will be at 2:00 p.m., graveside, at Watonga IOOF Cemetery in Watonga, Oklahoma on Gwen’s Grandson, Rev. Daniel Heath Woolman of Kissimmee, Fl., will be officiating.