On January 15, 2022, Jared (“Jerry”) Ryker Woodfill IV, age 79 of Houston, graduated to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jerry was born on October 22, 1942, in Atlanta, Georgia to Lt. Colonel Jared R. Woodfill III and Helen Mathis Woodfill. At the time of his birth, Jerry’s dad was stationed at a military base. Soon after World War II, Jerry’s family moved to Highland, Indiana, where Jerry spent his formative years. Jerry was valedictorian of his high school class and an outstanding basketball player. He received a basketball scholarship to Rice University, Houston, Texas, where he studied electrical engineering.
As a 1965 Rice graduate in electrical engineering, at the age of 22 Jerry joined NASA, inspired by a speech he heard from President John F. Kennedy on his college campus in 1962. In 1966, Jerry married the love of his life, the former Betty Beck of Nacogdoches, Texas. As a young NASA engineer, Jerry was solely responsible for the Apollo 11 and 13 missions’ emergency alarm systems. During his 57 + year career at NASA, Jerry received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, NASA Silver Snoopy award (given personally by NASA Astronauts for outstanding achievement related to human flight safety or mission success), Sagamore of the Wabash Award (an honorary award created by the state of Indiana as a personal tribute given to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state or to the governor), Rice University Distinguished Alumni, and numerous other awards. Of all the Apollo missions Jerry worked on, the most iconic was Apollo 13. For Jerry, Apollo 13’s successful return shaped more than his professional career. This event showed him the power of prayer and grew his life-long faith. Jerry was active in Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, serving as an International Director. He shared his faith throughout the world. At the time of his death, Jerry was still employed by NASA some 57 + years. During the latter part of his career, some described him as a NASA “evangelist”, giving up to 40 lectures a year, attracting young people to NASA. He was recognized as the Educational Volunteer of the Year, as well as the recipient of the NASA’s Power of One Award.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Betty, and his two sons, Jared R. Woodfill V and his wife, Celeste Ponce Woodfill, Pastor Matthew Beck Woodfill and his wife, Tammy Inman Woodfill, his grandchildren Matthew Beck Woodfill, Jr., Grace Ann Woodfill, Caroline Faith Woodfill, Isabella Ponce Woodfill, Jared Ryker Woodfill VII, and his sister Susan Woodfill Bowers of Indiana and his niece Maggie Cole Dainton of Bloomington, Indiana.
Services will be conducted by his son, Pastor Matt Woodfill, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at The Way Church, 24418, Interstate 45 North, The Woodlands, Texas 77386.
The family grieves the separation, but because of their faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ they rejoice in the promise of everlasting life.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Woodfill family by clicking the "Add a Memory" tab.
