Robert E. Woods

Lt. Col. Robert E. Woods, Ret. - Titusville - On Sunday afternoon, March 14, 2010, our country lost one more of the few remaining World War II veterans. Lt. Col. Robert E. Woods, retired, passed away at age 88 surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home. Bob was born on January 17, 1922 in Obion, TN. Throughout high school in Tennessee he served in ROTC, and soon after his graduation he enlisted in the Air Force. In the Air Force, Bob served his country for 23 years as a pilot and safety officer. During World War II he completed 35 missions as a B-17 Bomber pilot over Germany, completed numerous missions as a rescue pilot in Korea, and flew C124 flights into Vietnam. Bob retired at Hunter Air Force Base as M.A.T.S. Wing Safety Officer. He earned 32 medals including the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. After his retirement in Savannah, GA, Bob moved to Titusville, FL in 1966 and worked for NASA Safety during the Apollo and Shuttle programs. Bobs family and friends cherish his paintings, cartoons, cards and drawings. While working for NASA, Bob contributed to the Space Center Newspaper with a cartoon called "Dot n Dash". For his entire life Bob served the Lord as a member of the Church of Christ, serving as a song leader, teacher, preacher, deacon and elder. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and his first wife, Love, of 50 years. He is lovingly cherished and remembered by Pat, his wife of 17 years; his five children, Lynda, Susan, Michael, Leonard, and Penny. He is also survived by eight-grandchildren, Robert, Bradley, Leah, Rick, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jonathan and Anne Marie; two great-grandchildren Kathlyn and Robyn; and his son-in-law, Chuck; and daughter-in-law, Carolyn. His knowledge of art, songs, wit, sweet smile and love of the Lord will be greatly missed. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 19, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. at Brevard Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, Cocoa, FL, followed by Funeral Services Saturday, March 20, 2010, 2 p.m., at North Brevard Church of Christ, on Park Avenue, Titusville, FL. Entombment will follow at Brevard Memorial Park with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Hospice of St. Francis, www.hospiceofstfrancis.com, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780 for their kind and respectful care and/or Mt. Dora Childrens Home, www.chbs.org, 301 West 13th Ave., Mt. Dora, FL 32757.