Woods retires from postal service after three decades

Peggy Woods began working part time at the Osceola Post Office in 1981 while still raising her five children and became full time in 2003. December 25, 2020 was Woods’ official last day as a mail carrier. Though that was her last official day, Woods’ had to stop carrying earlier after tearing a meniscus in her knee while changing a flat tire on her mail route.

“When I first started I worked one day a week, Saturdays and filled in when people had vacation,” said Woods. “It worked out great because when you have a family the family comes first.”

While Woods’ has many memories from her years in the Postal Service one that really stands out for her was one winter when she got her vehicle stuck in a snow drift on her rural route for three hours. A neighbor came down and had to take the snow away with a tractor, a bucket at a time. When another mail carrier came to help her the other carrier ended up getting stuck in the snow as well.

“I’m tired of driving in snow and ice, if it wasn’t for snow and ice I’d probably keep carrying,” said Woods.

Woods appreciated all the people on her route and how nicely they kept their mailboxes and the ground around them so she could do her job more efficiently. Some people would even leave treats in the mailbox for her. She also always enjoyed seeing the flowers and landscaping in the yards on her route. She drew inspiration from many of those yards for her own every spring and summer.

“The people on the route are like family. When one of them is sick we make a special effort for them to get their mail easier. We make sure to leave packages where they won’t get rained on or get chewed up by a dog, or damaged in any way,” said Woods.

Woods carried mail on her rural route with her own vehicle. She had 250 deliveries a day, driving 125 miles every day five days a week.

Woods plans to have a part time job again once her leg is healed.

“I just can’t stand to be down and quiet,” said Woods.

She looks forward to going to her grandkids sporting events, mowing and working in her yard later this year and finding a part time job where she won’t have to deal with snow and ice.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions the Osceola Post Office staff won’t be having a gathering at this time but are encouraging community member to thank Woods for her many years of dedication to the Postal Service by sending her cards to 1302 210th Avenue Osceola, IA 50213.