Barbara J. Woods

Barbara J. Woods Nakajo ceased her struggle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (A.L.S.) at her home in Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2016 with family and friends at her side.

Barbara was born in Palmer, Alaska 58 years ago on Dec. 14, 1957 to Noel and Jean Woods. She was a dedicated, loving mother to her son William, who returned the sentiment, spending the past four years attending to Barbara as ALS paralyzed her and robbed her of her health.

She graduated from Palmer High School and continued her education at Oregon State University where she earned her degree in Meteorology in 1981. Commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, she took up her first duty station as a weather officer at N.O.R.A.D. in Colorado Springs. After that posting, she served around the Pacific Rim, stationed in South Korea and Guam. Her Air Force career then took her back to Langley Air Base, from where she was sent to South America. In 1990 she left the Air Force and entered into Civil Service for Department of Defense. She served in Panama for four years, then transferred to Miami, Florida. There she continued her education, earning a Master’s degree in I.T. Management.

From Florida, her civil service posting took her to Stuttgart, Germany for five years. She returned to the US, working in Washington D.C. and finally, in Anchorage, Alaska. Barbara had an adventurous spirit, at every duty station she took advantage of the opportunity to travel extensively, meet new people and enjoy new cuisine. She took keen interest in local foods, enrolling in cooking classes wherever she traveled. She believed that if you enjoyed living in a community, you should volunteer to support the community. To this end, she was an active volunteer at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, she assisted with Books for Soldiers, was a Boy Scout troop leader.

When she received her diagnosis of A.L.S., she became an A.L.S. activist and fundraiser for research.

She was preceded in death by two uncles, Warren (Buddy) Woods, Larrie Woods and nephew, Shane Woods.

She is survived by her son William Nakajo; parents Noel and Jean Woods; her namesake aunt, Barbara (Wesley) Godfrey; siblings Lynn (Wade) Miller, Wayne (Mae) Woods and Nathan (Sandra) Woods as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m, Oct. 25, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Palmer, Alaska. In honor of Barbara’s keen appreciation of international cuisine, please bring a favorite gourmet or ethnic dish to share after the service. Donations may be made to ALS-TDI research, ALSA Evergreen Chapter, the Palmer or Anchorage Public Libraries or Books for Soldiers.