Dallas Louise Webb Wickham-Grodman passed away on August 29 in San Antonio, TX at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Preceded in death by her parents Edna and Dallas Webb, her brother David Webb and first husband Donald Wickham. Survived by husband Harold Grodman of Bulverde, daughter Winona Wickham-Miller and husband Matt of Austin, son Jack Wickham, grand-daughters Winona Jo and Bailey Wickham of San Antonio, sisters Cassell Webb-Leon of London, Rebecca Kidwell of Sacramento, California, Jimmie Whipple of New Braunfels and brother Mitchell Webb of San Antonio and many other relatives and dear friends.
The oldest of six children, Dallas was born August 19, 1942 in San Antonio and traveled extensively with her military family. Theatre was a passion and she was the first American accepted to the world renown Cambridge School of Drama in England.
A gifted actress, Dallas appeared in many theatrical productions, but to the benefit of thousands of young people she also acted upon her enthusiasm for literature, drama and life during a much honored 35 year teaching career; the majority of which was as a beloved teacher of English, Speech and Drama in the San Antonio area.
At age 45 Dallas returned to college and earned her master's degree. She became a reading specialist, fulfilling one of her greatest passions, which was assessing and improving reading problems to enrich the lives of area youth.
In 1991 she married Harold Grodman and after retiring from teaching, moved to a country setting in Bulverde. Her work with children continued as the celebrated children's dramatic storyteller at the Bulverde Library. Even after being diagnosed, Dallas continued her passion and volunteered at the library teaching English as a second language.
A loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister and friend, few people have shown as brightly in the lives of so many.
Services will be Saturday, September 1st at Sunset Funeral Chapel on Austin Highway in San Antonio at 3pm.
The family wishes to thank the staff and doctors at CTRC, Hospice and The Laurels. Dallas loved flowers, but memorials to the Bulverde Spring Branch Children's Library would also be appreciated.
Note for blog: The Family address for correspondence/cards is 5925 Green Acres, Austin, TX 78727. We will ensure all family members receive.
Bulverde/Spring Branch Children's Library Info: 20475 Hwy 46 West, Suite 240, Spring Branch, TX 78070, 830-438-4864
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SA News Article about Miss Dallas @ Library:
Casting a reading spell
Web Posted: 05/04/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Rachel L. Toalson
Express-News Staff Writer
BULVERDE — Weathered from years of theatrical use, Dallas Grodman's gravelly voice resounds into the tiniest corners of the Bulverde/Spring Branch library — enticing all who enter the building to follow its trail.
Her kindly eyes, crinkled from countless smiles, brighten visibly at the approach of the children — some she recognizes, some she's never met — as they vie for a place on the carpet that is closest to her.
There she'll chat with them — a sparkly red "storytelling cape" tied securely around her neck, matching slippered feet tucked beneath her — until just before her performance begins.
And the minute Grodman begins her story, the rest of them come — lured from behind the bookshelves, where they've peeked out at Grodman through the spaces between books.
"I just love doing this," Grodman says, her face folding into a smile. "It's so rewarding. I don't care if I only have one or two. I'll still sit down and do it anyway."
Generally, during her story times at the library every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Grodman's attendance hits nearer to 30 or 40 than the single digits.
After retiring from 31 years of teaching — 28 years in high school drama, speech and English and three years as an elementary reading specialist — Grodman said she became "bored to death" with all her free time.
Grodman, who retired four years ago, approached library administrators with the idea of a story time for kids.
They readily agreed.
"We think she's the best storyteller in the state," said Marykaye Morgan, a librarian. "She's great with kids. She's enthusiastic and keeps their attention, and she knows how to get their attention back when it wanders."
While storytelling might seem a natural fit for a theater major, Grodman said she never would have guessed she'd be a storyteller during her retirement.
But she has a mission.
"I want the children to come here for different activities so they'll always be interested in the library," she said. "If they start now, they'll realize that it's fun to hear books and listen to stories. All the research shows that if they learn the library is fun and interesting, that stays with them.
"If I had something like this when I was young, I would have driven my mother crazy. These kids — they will aggravate their mothers to come."
So Grodman believes her charge is a heavy one.
She competes with television and cartoons and movies, where the visual images constantly change — faster than her "old eyes" can keep up, she says.
Her challenge, Grodman said, is to create the same fast-paced images with the books she reads — only in the mind's eye.
"With television, everything's already imagined for them," Grodman said. "With reading, they have to use their imaginations. I want them to use their imaginations, but I can't create those MTV images when I read. I have to find that common ground where I keep their attention, but I get them away from 'It's only a book.' That's not easy to do.
"Something's got to happen. They love action, and, of course, the characters in the story have to be ones they relate to."
Before reading a book to the children, Grodman said she will pore over its pages, brainstorming about where she can break into the story with hands-on activities, songs or real visuals that will keep her audience listening.
She's used every tactic she ever learned in her training to become a teacher, she said.
Grodman has a room in her Bulverde home that is filled nearly to overflowing with children's books, activity pages, puppets and other props for her stories.
It's ever growing, Grodman said, because every time she visits a store, she can't stop herself from buying something for her "children."
Her methods, parents say, have worked — instilling in their children a greater appreciation for books and the library itself.
"They've learned a lot about imagination and creativity," said Misty Kent, who brings her three children — 5-year-old Tabitha, 4-year-old Sarah and 2-year-old Stephen. "And they've learned a love for books.
"She brings the books alive. She's inspirational. They love to go see Miss Dallas. They look forward to this."
Kent said Grodman also has taught her how to keep a child's attention. She homeschools her three, she said, and many of Grodman's methods have worked for her.
Parents travel from all over San Antonio to hear Grodman's stories. Lauren Jung brings her two children, Meghan and Rebecca, all the way from Boerne.
"She's wonderful," Jung said. "She captures the children's attention. She really instills in kids a love for books. And you can tell she enjoys this."
"I love watching the children's imagination grow," Grodman said. "They just can't wait to choose their own books when I'm done."
Grodman vows that until her energy runs out or she fails to take adequate care of her own family, she'll continue telling her stories.
For more information about Grodman's story times, call (830) 438-4864 or visit the library Web site at www.bsb.lib.tx.us
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