Russell Floyd Woods

Russ was born February 16, 1939, in Garden City, Kansas, to Lonzo and Myrtle Woods of Calvesta, Kansas, the sixth child of 11 brothers and sisters. Living on the family farm, Russ spent most of his time working or playing outdoors with his brothers, sisters and cousins; he even attended a rural two-room school. In 1954, the family moved to Gridley, California, to try their hand at orchard farming.

Russell was an outstanding athlete, and played football, basketball, baseball, and track in high school. Russ continued his football career by playing as an offensive guard for Yuba Junior College. He went on to play for the Cal Poly Mustangs while majoring in Agriculture.

Russell's football career was cut short in 1960, when a plane carrying the Cal Poly team crashed after leaving Toledo, Ohio. Eighteen of his teammates, coaches and crew died, and the loss of so many of his close friends stayed with him his entire life. In 2006, Russ was forever enshrined in the Cal Poly Hall of Fame, and in 2007, he was inducted into the Yuba Junior College Hall of Fame.

While at Cal Poly, Russ met his wife, Sonja, and they wed in 1962. After graduating from college, the couple moved to Watsonville, where Russell worked for the federal government as a vegetable inspector. Their first daughter, Nicki, was born in 1966, and their son Curtis, named after Russell's close friend lost in the Cal Poly crash, was born in 1969.

In 1972, Russell went into the construction business in the Bay Area with his brother Homer. In 1974, the brothers moved their business to Redding. Russell and Sonja stayed and raised their children in this beautiful town.

Russell was a hard-working man and an exceptional husband, father and grandfather. Although he worked hard building custom homes, he always found time to attend his children and grandchildren's sporting events, theater and dance performances. They were the joy of his life.

Russell was predeceased by his parents, Lonzo and Mrytle; brothers Harold and Marvin, sister Ellen, sister-in-law Betty Woods; brother-in-law David Mitchell and by his wife Sonja. He is survived by brothers Donald, Glen and Homer Woods; sisters Lois Mae Langford, Marlene Davis, Barbara Mitchell and Mille Shold; daughter Nicki Lafferty; son Curtis (Laura) Woods and by his grandchildren Hannah and Rachael Lafferty, and Grace and Emma Woods.

The family would like to express their extreme gratitude to the staff of Mercy Medical Center, and to the staff of Windsor Care Facility, for their love and care of Russell in his final months.

Russell will always be remembered as a loyal, hardworking, calm, quiet, and good man. He was well liked by all who met him and will be missed by many.