Born in Gadsden, Alabama to Willard and Cleo Woods. Willard moved with his family to West Palm Beach Florida when he was ten years old where he lived through graduation from Palm Beach High School in 1953. He went on to serve in the United States Air Force (Airman 1st Class) with a honorable discharge after 4 years of service. He graduated from The California College of Mortuary Science in 1963 in Los Angeles, California. After receiving his diploma he started his 50+ year long career as a Funeral Director at Quattlebaum Holleman Burse Funeral Home in West Palm Beach and served at other local funeral homes, including Dorsey–E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens, and finished up his lifetime career at Heirs Baxley Funeral Home in The Villages Florida, where he lived with his wife, Virginia Franklin Woods of 16 years.
Willard is survived by his siblings: Linda Segers Ward (and Ivan Ward of Greeneville, TN), Donny Woods (and Marilyn Woods of Elgin, SC); his two children with wife, Bettie Hicks Thompson (who resides with husband, Wayne Thompson of Prescott, AZ), son, Doug Woods (and Amy Woods of Holland, MI) grandchildren Douglas Woods II and Crista Woods Holstege (and Tim Holstege of Zeeland, MI); great grandchildren Adilynn Joy, Lacey Shea and Kyler John Holstege; Daughter, Glenda Woods-Shea (widowed), grandchildren Rudy Lopez-Shea, Gabriella Lopez-Shea and Mackenzie Shea; and great granddaughter (Ember Mackenzie Warren).
A visitation for Willard will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A funeral service will occur Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. A committal service with military honors will occur Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dorsey-smithmemorygardens.com for the Woods family.
