Sixty-three years of marriage began with a simple foundation in Virginia Beach, where Irma Brickhouse Woodruff spent her life building a sprawling family and deep roots in the Tidewater community.
Woodruff passed away peacefully on October 4, 2026, at the age of 84, surrounded by her family in Norfolk, Virginia, according to an obituary published on Legacy.com by Strickland & Family Cremations & Funeral Services.
Born in 1942 to the late George and Alice Brickhouse, Woodruff lived through decades of coastal transformation in Hampton Roads. Her life spanned an era that saw the quiet beach communities of her youth evolve into bustling coastal cities, yet her own joys remained anchored in the domestic and local sphere. She loved reading, home decorating, and visiting local restaurants, maintaining a particular fascination with the history of the Tidewater region she called home for more than eight decades.
A Lifetime Rooted in Tidewater
She shared her life with her late husband, Lester M. Woodruff, with whom she built a family that eventually grew to include three sons: Butch, Steve (joined by his wife, Brenda, also known as Beth), and Jeff (joined by his wife, Anne). Down through the generations, her family expanded to include numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her passing closes a chapter for a family whose history in the coastal Virginia area stretches back generations. The community that knew her as a devoted mother and grandmother will gather later this week to mark her passing.
Services Scheduled at Chic’s Beach
Family and friends will gather for a visitation at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at The Chapel at Chic’s Beach, located at 2224 Greenwell Rd. in Virginia Beach. A service celebrating her life will follow immediately at 2:00 p.m. at the same location, as reported by Strickland & Family Cremations & Funeral Services.
