Nancy Woodson

Professor Nancy Potter Woodson, age 83, of Worthington, OH, died February 6, 2018 at Dublin Methodist Hospital. On January 27, 1935 she was born in North Adams, Massachusetts the daughter of the late Frederick and Flora (Plumb) Potter. She earned her B.A. in 1957 from the University of Michigan, her M.Ed. in 1962 from North Adams State College and her PhD from The Ohio State University in 1985. On December 19, 1963, Nancy married the love of her life, Thomas Miller Woodson, in Williamstown Massachusetts. They moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1964 to teach in the English Department at The Ohio State University. Together they shared 51 years as both husband and wife and as colleagues. Nancy also taught English at Upper Arlington High School from 1974 to 1977 and enjoyed directing theater productions there as well. She continued to teach in the Division of Comparative Studies and for the Writing Workshop at the Ohio State University until beginning her career at Otterbein University in 1987. She went on to hold multiple positions including Associate Dean of the University, Director and founder of Otterbein University’s Honors Program, and helped establish their Women’s Studies Program within the English Department, retiring in 2004. She continued to teach writing, memoirs, and Honors seminars during retirement, most recently a course on New England Literature for the Lifelong Learning Community. Nancy is survived by her daughter Paula Woodson, her son Andrew T. Woodson and his wife Cary Hackett, daughter Sarah Potter Lukken and her husband Mark Lukken, her grandson Owen Mark Lukken, her brother Robert McPherson and his wife Beverly McPherson, her nephews Glenn and Gary McPherson, and her niece Sue Moulton. Nancy was a vibrant and intelligent woman who lived a life rich in friendships, experiences, and accomplishments. To meet her was to love her. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington, Ohio on Saturday, February 17th at 3:00 pm. There will be a reception in Killbourne Hall in the church after the service.