Christine L. Woodruff

In memory of Christine L. Woodruff

July 14, 1929 - July 3, 2026

Christine Woodruff, a warm-hearted, much-loved mother, spouse and friend, as well as a respected former college professor, passed away early July 3, 2026. She was 96 and died of old age in her home at Riverwoods in Lewisburg.

She was a pioneer of sorts, becoming a professional woman in an era when that was relatively uncommon. While in high school, her father told her to take typing classes, which she did only reluctantly, for fear of becoming pigeon-holed as a clerical worker. She remained a lifelong hunt-and-peck typist, but went on to earn bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees in psychology.

Chris was a kind and gentle soul. She had a quick, wry wit that brought laughter to those around her. During her years as a professor, she often included cartoons on the exams she handed out to students, aiming to lighten the mood and calm their minds for the task at hand. She was a lifelong fan of comic strips such as Peanuts. The "funnies" section of the Sunday paper was always a must-read.

Christine Louise Lipps was born July 14, 1929. Her mother died in childbirth. Her father, Willard Lipps, was a traveling salesman, so she lived with her grandparents in Ohio for several years until he remarried. She grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that left her with a frugal streak lasting her whole life.

She was a gifted student with a quick and curious mind. After high school in Oak Park, Illinois, she earned a scholarship to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She graduated in 1951, having majored in psychology, with a minor in French.

Chris then joined the PhD program in psychology at Yale University. There she met her future husband and life-long companion, Neal Woodruff. They married in 1952, before she completed her degree, and they moved to Pittsburgh where Neal became an English professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Her academic career slowed down for several years while she and Neal started a family. They had two children, but once the kids started school, she devoted more time to her studies. She juggled responsibilities at home with the demands of course work and research at the University of Pittsburgh, where she completed a master's degree and PhD in psychology.

She was hired as a professor at Pitt, however she and Neal soon decided to leave large universities and seek positions at small liberal arts colleges. They moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1968. Chris taught psychology for several years at Cornell College and Coe College before moving to Mt. Mercy University, where she was chair of the psychology department. While there, she expanded the department's course offerings so students could pursue psychology as a major.

When she retired from Mt. Mercy, the school created an endowed scholarship in her name to support promising young psychology students and an annual award in her name to recognize a student exhibiting academic excellence in psychology.

During her time in Iowa, Chris also served on the Cedar Rapids Human Rights Commission.

In 1991, after Chris retired, she and Neal moved to Lewisburg. They wanted to be close to the family cabin near Penns Creek built in the 1950s by her aunt and uncle. It was a place they loved to relax, read, entertain friends and go for walks in the woods.

Chris and Neal shared a love of travel. During summer vacations while they were still working, they often explored America's cities and natural wonders with their children in the family's Volkswagen camper. Later they ventured further afield, making numerous trips to Europe, as well as visiting the Soviet Union and China.

Chris was a natural athlete and had a competitive streak. She played softball and field hockey during college. While living in Pittsburgh she enjoyed playing golf and tennis. In Iowa she took up racquetball and after moving to Lewisburg was part of a regular group of racquetball players until she was 80 years old.

Chris enjoyed her retirement in Lewisburg and the many good friends she made here. She was a long-time member of the Joseph Priestly Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lewisburg and was an active member of the League of Women Voters. She was also part of the Feminist Fiction Reading Group, a memoir-writing group and a weekly stitchery group.

She is survived by her daughter Sukie, son David and two grandchildren, Lucian and Clea. Neal, with whom she shared 69 happy years of marriage and companionship, died in 2021.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 pm on July 14, 2026 in the dining room at Riverwoods, 270 Ridgecrest Cir. in Lewisburg.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the League of Women Voters of the Lewisburg Area.