Helen McWilliams Cooley

Helen Virginia McWilliams Cooley, age 93, of Woodstock, went home peacefully to be with her Lord on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at Loving Arms Assisted Living in Front Royal, VA. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at the Dellinger Funeral Home, Woodstock. Her nephew, Pastor Howard Lutz, and Pastor David Rash will officiate. Burial will follow at Massanutten Cemetery in Woodstock. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Cooley was born September 18, 1917 in Maurertown, VA and was the daughter of the late Otis and Brucie Shillingburg McWilliams. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Ray Alvin Cooley, who died in 2004. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Reba Catherine Lutz and infant sister, Nora McWilliams. She was an active member of Woodstock United Methodist Church. She worked numerous jobs during her life-time, including waitressing at Dorothy's Inn in the 1940s. She and Ray were avid gardeners and she especially enjoyed growing roses. She was a great story teller and loved telling stories about her life experiences. Even after the death of Ray, she continued to keep her own home, until a fall in 2009. She was a caring mother, grandmother, aunt and friend always interested in listening and talking with others. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. Helen is survived by two sons, Richard E. Cooley, Sr. and his wife, Susan of Woodstock, and Larry Cooley and his wife, Marcia of Orange Beach, AL; one brother, Charles D. McWilliams of McLean, VA; and one sister-in-law, Eleanor Cooley of Edinburg, VA. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Debbie and (Bill) Fadeley, Patti Stickley, Rich Cooley, Jr., Denise and (Tommy) Derflinger, Tamara Aaberg, Vicki and (Terry) Register, Lisa and (James) Warfield, Lori and (Jeffrey) Derfler, Tracie and (Stanley) Gregan, and Michael and (Kristin) Cooley; 18 great-grandchildren, Emily and Kylie Fadeley, Amy and (Michael) Himelright, Samuel Stickley, Daniel and Dylan Derflinger, Jessica and (Joshua) Pa'akaula, Erika and (Joshua) Bierbower, David and Kiersten Aaberg, Brittni and Bailee Register, Marc Warfield, Ryan Derfler, Cory, Kali, Hunter and Shane Gregan; and three great-great grandchildren, Emma and Piper Himelright and Kailani Pa'akaula. Pallbearers will be Michael Cooley, Bill Fadeley, Samuel Stickley, Rich Cooley, Tommy Derflinger and Dylan Derflinger. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Woodstock United Methodist Church, 156 S. Muhlenburg St., Woodstock, VA 22664.