Otila Woodhall Leaves Behind a Legacy of History
Otila Woodhall January 9, 1913-December 12, 2006
By Ruth Lepper

Otila Woodhall

The death of Otila Woodhall was the end of an era in the history of Ramona. Believed to be the oldest native of Ramona who continued to make her home here, she passed away on Dec. 12 at the age of 93.

Woodhall was as well known by her own name as she was by her pseudonym - Cookie the Clown. She performed in countless shows with her husband, Adrian, as Cookie & Ernie, traveling as far as his native England to bring smiles and laughter to all who witnessed their performances.

They were popular attractions at Ramona County Fair and local library events and often performed at Seaport Village, Coronado Ferry Landing and San Diego County Fair at Del Mar. They also were involved with the Laugh Mobile, a contingency of clowns that visited patients at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.

Woodhall was born Jan. 9, 1913, the youngest of six children to Dora and Harlan Woodward. She called Ramona her home all her life with the exception of two years in the early 1980s when she cared for her ailing brother, noted historian Arthur Woodward, in Patagonia, Ariz. It was there that she met and later married Adrian Woodhall.

Otila with her first husband William Harrison.

Otila Woodhall operated a catering business for about 30 years, starting in the early 1950s. She specialized in weddings and luncheons for local service clubs. She kept her recipes a secret, although there was one in particular, "Anadama Batter Bread," she said could be found in a cookbook.

As legend has it, a farmer's wife could only prepare cornmeal mush for her husband's dinner. To his dismay, he finally yelled out, "Anna, damn it!" Then proceeded to add molasses and a few other ingredients, thus creating "Anadama Batter Bread."

Another of Woodhall's famous recipes was Ramona Wedding Punch. As years went by, she began sharing some of her recipes. The popular punch has since been served at many local weddings.

In past years, Woodhall was active with Ramona Woman's Club and Ramona Grange. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Ramona and a life member of Ramona Pioneer Historical Society. Otila and Adrian Woodhall are featured on the cover of the society's yearbook for 2006.

Otila at about seven or eight years of age. Photos Courtesy of Guy B. Woodward Museum

Woodhall often surprised younger generations when she would mention she knew their great-grandparents. When she was 16, she worked for Amy Strong at the well-known "castle" on Archie Moore Road. Woodhall's 90th birthday was celebrated with a luncheon for family and friends at the castle.Woodhall first came to the castle in the early 1930s to help with preparation for the wedding of one of Strong's nieces. Woodhall was 16 then and she lived in a cottage on the grounds until she graduated from Ramona High School. She left to marry her first husband but later returned to live there again. She worked inside and her husband was a groundsman.

Woodhall said in a 1990 interview that she didn't recall Strong entertaining much at Christmas time but did recall big parties for New Year's and a party once a year for the Society of Architects. Other parties were given for people involved with the arts, including the well-known opera singer, Madame Scheuman-Heinke.

Otila was a Fox Fiesta Queen for Ramona in 1929. Her duties included a tour of San Diego and meeting movies stars.

"It was quite an education for me because of the type of guests she had," Woodhall said.

She was predeceased by two husbands, William "Bill" Harrison, in the 1960s, and John Hamlin in 1981. She shared nearly 20 years of marriage with Adrian Woodhall.

Other survivors in addition to her husband, include sons Alan Harrison of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Nicholas Harrison of Rancho Cordova; daughters Doreen "Dodie" Van Dyke of Gaston, Ore., Tina Smith of Ramona, and Karen Stanley of Blackwell, Okla.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 13 at the First Congregational Church in Ramona. Donations may be made in her memory to the Guy B. Woodward Museum, P.O. Box 625, Ramona 92065.

Otila at about one-year old with mother Dora Woodward and grandmother Mrs. Jacob Henry Mechling. As "Cookie" the clown Woodhall had painted most the faces in Ramona. Ramona Home Journal Archive Photo Woodhall in the 1970s.