Edith Jones was a 1931 graduate of Waldron High School. She studied mathematics and physics at Purdue University, earning a bachelor of science degree in 1935. She won the Flora Roberts Medal as Outstanding Senior Woman in her graduating class at Purdue. Later, she earned a Ph.D.  in astronomy from Radcliffe College in 1941. Edith taught astronomy, mathematics, and geology for more than 40 years, most of which was spent at William Paterson College from 1959 to 1983. She published a textbook based on her teachings titled Elementary Concepts of Sets (1959) and gave an address at the meeting of the Science-Mathematics Society of New Jersey in 1960.

Edith held a grant from the National Science Foundation from 1973-1975 for research at Kitt Peak National Observatory and traveled to Chile three times to work with NASA. In 1980 she was awarded a grant to fund work at the Harvard College Observatory, where she studied eclipses of binary stars. Today, the American Astronomical Society presents an Edith J. Woodward Award named in her memory. In addition to her work in astronomy, Edith was active in the League of Women Voters and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972. Edith’s pursuit of lifelong learning and dedication to educating others makes her a role model to many.