With great sadness but full hearts, we say goodbye to Robert "Bob" M. Woods. Born to Leone and Melvin Woods and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Bob attended Leo High School and earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Loyola University Chicago. Bob met the love of his life, Joanne (“Joan,” nee Wolski) at a Loyola dance and they were married for 66 years. Bob served his country at the Redstone Arsenal Army base in Huntsville, Alabama, using his physics degree to compute missile trajectories. He later traveled the world for his successful career in engineering and sales.
For 50 years, Bob and Joan lived in Arlington Heights and were devoted members of St. James Parish. They raised three children: Marianne Cirone (Dominic) of Franklin, Tennessee; and David Woods (Alison) and Dan Woods (Kim) of Arlington Heights. A proud father, Bob truly lit up as a grandfather. For any game, concert, play, or recital involving his grandchildren Stephanie, Caroline, Emily, Josh, Lauren, or Leah, Bob was always there.
Bob was a voracious reader, a quick-witted conversationalist, and the undisputed life of the party. He spent many happy hours with friends and family on his pontoon boat on Silver Lake. As a lifelong Catholic, Bob would have been delighted to know that the new pope is a fellow South Sider and a White Sox fan.
Visitation will be at 9:30 am on Wednesday, May 28 at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 434 W Park St, Arlington Heights, followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m.
The family is deeply grateful to the compassionate care teams at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling and Suncrest Hospice of Northbrook, who helped gently carry Bob into the next chapter.
In place of flowers, donations may be made to: Addolorata Villa Associate Appreciation Fund, 555 McHenry Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090. https://franciscanministries.org/addolorata-villa/donate/
