Richard David Woods born September 4, 1935, died on January 28 at the age of 85. Dick was born to Andrew and Beryl (Evens) Woods in Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from Sexton High School in Lansing in 1953, obtained a BS in Civil Engineering in 1957, MS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from Notre Dame University. From September 1957 through August 1960 he served in the United States Marine Corps as an engineering officer.
In 1967 he received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan and went on to become a member of the University of Michigan faculty for over 35 years. He served as the Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 1994 to 2001. Dick received numerous awards for his pioneering work in his field and in 2003 was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Dixie L. (Davis) Woods, in 2012 and his daughter Kathleen (Woods) Laird in 1981. He is survived by his daughters, Cecilia Woods of Dexter and Karen Woods Bochenek (Andrew) of Royal Oak, grandson Trevor Laird (Nina) of Glasgow, Scotland, granddaughters Jane Woods (Ross) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Audi Woods of Ypsilanti, Sarina (Parks) Pankey (Kevin) of Belleville, Tori Parks of Ypsilanti, great-granddaughters Daisha Wilson, Siobhan Woods, Alanna Armstrong, Hella Woods, and great-grandsons Zyhare Scott- Woods, and Kevin Pankey jr.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on March 13, 2021, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church located at 6805 Mast Rd. Dexter, Michigan. Visitation will be from 11 AM to 12 PM the mass will begin at 12 PM.
Memorial gifts can be made to Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, and St. Joseph parish of Dexter, MI.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.muehligannarbor.com for the Woods family.
