Claudia Woods - Obituary

LAUDIA CLANTON WOODS -Claudia Clanton Woods, 54, of Davidsonville, MD died of natural causes at Anne Arundel Community Hospital on Feb 12. Claudia, daughter of Ron and Rosemary Clanton, was born in Baltimore, MD and spent her childhood in Arnold, Maryland where she went to Wroxeter Elementary and graduated from The Severn School in Severna Park, MD. At Wroxeter and Severn she was a highly-competitive student and athlete. Claudia was a member of the first group of women allowed to attend Severn. She was an avid field hockey player, sailor, snow and water skier, and figure skater. Later she also enjoyed roller-blade skating, bicycling, and volley ball. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1978 and then did a cross-country tour of the USA as well as seeing much of Europe. Traveling would remain one of her greatest passions. Early in her career she managed the swimming programs at the Westfield, NJ YMCA where she helped inaugurate the original Early Swim program for infants. Returning to Arnold, MD she entered the computer sciences field at USF&G and later at IITRE in Parole, MD where she met her husband, Edward (Ed) Woods, whom she married in 1982. Later, Claudia received a Masters of Information Management at George Washington University. Most recently, Claudia was a Program Manager for Lockheed-Martin in Hanover, MD. With her family she built a beautiful home, grew many beautiful gardens, provided shelter and love to four dogs and three cats, and organized many wonderful cruises, skiing vacations, and trips to Canada, Europe, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean Islands; Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and California; Los Vegas, NV, Sedona AZ, the Grand Canyon, and the Panama Canal. At work she selflessly mentored her coworkers and provided leadership. To her family and closest friends she was a rock, good role model, and delight. She is survived by her husband Ed, their children Scott and Jessica Woods, her brother, Arthur Clanton, and many in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial celebration of her life and buffet will be from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Sheraton Hotel, 173 Jennifer Rd, Annapolis, MD on Sunday February 21. Internment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making charitable donations in her memory to any cancer research organization, charity for Haiti, or the ASPCA. Arrangements by the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, Edgewater, MD.