Dear Family and Friends,
Born in Washington, D.C. and left in an orange crate in a vacant tenement building in 1935, Bob was adopted by
Elizabeth Biggs after she saw an article in the Washington Post. Named Robert Gerald Woodyard, he had rickets and the
doctors didn’t think he would be able to walk. Bob proved them wrong when he grew up as a strong man who joined the
Navy in 1952 at age 17 and served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Quincy. In 1954, Bob took his G.E.D. test in a Quonset
hut on the island of Guam. He attended Columbia Technical Institute, Prince George’s Community College, and the Dept.
of the Army Academy of Health Sciences. After retirement, he attended Montgomery County Community College, taking art
and piano lessons.
In 1970, Bob married the love of his life, Theodora (Teddy) Bambacus. In each year to follow, they had their three
children, Andrea Theodora, Nicholas Robert, and Stephanie Sophia. They moved to The Woodlands, TX from Silver
Spring, MD in 1985.
Bob’s career employment was with the Veteran’s Administration. He developed the entire space planning program for
the Baltimore Replacement Hospital in the early 70’s and was the author of the space planning program for the 1.6M gross
square foot Houston Replacement/Modernization project. After 17 years in Washington, he was transferred to Houston, TX
as the Construction Coordinator for the flagship VA Hospital, later named the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. He
worked directly with John Sheehan who was the Director of the hospital. One of Bob’s proudest moments was personally
giving a tour of the new facility to England’s Queen Elizabeth and Crowned Prince Philip. After 30 years of service, Bob
retired from the government. In 1991, Bob became the Assistant Vice President for Facilities & Director of Major Building
Programs for The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Bob’s six grandchildren were born between 2004 – 2008: in birth order, Amalia Sophia, Gracie Jane, Aidan Thomas,
Max Michael, Nicholas Robert, and Avery Larie. They call him Papou, meaning Grandfather in Greek.
Bob’s favorite pastimes were swimming in his pool, swimming in the ocean, spending time with his wife, children and
grandchildren, drawing, painting, playing piano, dabbling in commercial acting, reading, watching TV, pristinely
maintaining his home and car, and using the computer. He was a sentimental person with a gregarious laugh, an avid
story teller, and he loved to learn and share his knowledge with his wife and children. He and his wife enjoyed hosting
gatherings of family and friends at their home; enjoying a good cold beer and an occasional fine cigar.
On January 2, 2009, Bob was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Woodlands after a fall at his
home (the second in two days). On Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 8:15pm, his wife and children and loved family friend,
Eliana Reinsvold, were at his side when our wonderful husband, father, Papou, Robert Gerald Woodyard, passed away at
the age of 73.
Bob is survived by his wife Teddy of 38 years; his daughter Andrea Balfour, son-in-law Matthew Balfour, grandchildren
Amalia, Aidan, and Avery Balfour; his son Nicholas Woodyard; and his daughter Stephanie Cearley, son-in-law Michael
Cearley, and grandchildren Gracie, Max, and Nicholas Cearley.
Please join us in celebrating the memory of his amazing life at our home on Saturday, January 31st, 2009 from 12pm –
3pm at 38 Rockledge Ct. in The Woodlands, TX 77382.
Love,
The Woodyard Family
Born in Washington, D.C. and left in an orange crate in a vacant tenement building in 1935, Bob was adopted by
Elizabeth Biggs after she saw an article in the Washington Post. Named Robert Gerald Woodyard, he had rickets and the
doctors didn’t think he would be able to walk. Bob proved them wrong when he grew up as a strong man who joined the
Navy in 1952 at age 17 and served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Quincy. In 1954, Bob took his G.E.D. test in a Quonset
hut on the island of Guam. He attended Columbia Technical Institute, Prince George’s Community College, and the Dept.
of the Army Academy of Health Sciences. After retirement, he attended Montgomery County Community College, taking art
and piano lessons.
In 1970, Bob married the love of his life, Theodora (Teddy) Bambacus. In each year to follow, they had their three
children, Andrea Theodora, Nicholas Robert, and Stephanie Sophia. They moved to The Woodlands, TX from Silver
Spring, MD in 1985.
Bob’s career employment was with the Veteran’s Administration. He developed the entire space planning program for
the Baltimore Replacement Hospital in the early 70’s and was the author of the space planning program for the 1.6M gross
square foot Houston Replacement/Modernization project. After 17 years in Washington, he was transferred to Houston, TX
as the Construction Coordinator for the flagship VA Hospital, later named the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. He
worked directly with John Sheehan who was the Director of the hospital. One of Bob’s proudest moments was personally
giving a tour of the new facility to England’s Queen Elizabeth and Crowned Prince Philip. After 30 years of service, Bob
retired from the government. In 1991, Bob became the Assistant Vice President for Facilities & Director of Major Building
Programs for The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Bob’s six grandchildren were born between 2004 – 2008: in birth order, Amalia Sophia, Gracie Jane, Aidan Thomas,
Max Michael, Nicholas Robert, and Avery Larie. They call him Papou, meaning Grandfather in Greek.
Bob’s favorite pastimes were swimming in his pool, swimming in the ocean, spending time with his wife, children and
grandchildren, drawing, painting, playing piano, dabbling in commercial acting, reading, watching TV, pristinely
maintaining his home and car, and using the computer. He was a sentimental person with a gregarious laugh, an avid
story teller, and he loved to learn and share his knowledge with his wife and children. He and his wife enjoyed hosting
gatherings of family and friends at their home; enjoying a good cold beer and an occasional fine cigar.
On January 2, 2009, Bob was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Woodlands after a fall at his
home (the second in two days). On Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 8:15pm, his wife and children and loved family friend,
Eliana Reinsvold, were at his side when our wonderful husband, father, Papou, Robert Gerald Woodyard, passed away at
the age of 73.
Bob is survived by his wife Teddy of 38 years; his daughter Andrea Balfour, son-in-law Matthew Balfour, grandchildren
Amalia, Aidan, and Avery Balfour; his son Nicholas Woodyard; and his daughter Stephanie Cearley, son-in-law Michael
Cearley, and grandchildren Gracie, Max, and Nicholas Cearley.
Please join us in celebrating the memory of his amazing life at our home on Saturday, January 31st, 2009 from 12pm –
3pm at 38 Rockledge Ct. in The Woodlands, TX 77382.
Love,
The Woodyard Family
| Robert G. Woodyard |
