Gordon Woodward

Gordon Harry Woodward, 91, died April 1, 2014. He met Shirley Anne Long, of Auburn, NY, at Cornel University in 1947, and they married in 1949. They were married for 64 years. He lived in Maine (Union Center), NY for most of his life, living the last 25 years in Sun City, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mabel (Ketchum) Woodward, and his two brothers, Howard and Guilford Woodward. He is survived by his wife, Shirley “Terry” Woodward, Sun City, AZ; two children, Steven Woodward, Tempe, AZ and Catherine and husband Glen Pruett, Bakersfield, CA; as well as three grandchildren, Rebekah (Christopher) Nelson, Mikah Pruett, and Cheyenne (Nathaniel) Lamont; and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Aubrey, Alyssa, Kaleb, and Jaxon. He is also survived by sister in-law, Loraine Woodward, Johnson City, NY, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Gordon graduated from Union Endicott High School and Cornell University. He served as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force in WWII stationed on Guam. After WWII Gordon remained in the active reserves until he had 25 years of service, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After graduating from Cornell University Gordon went to work for Woodward Poultry Farms, in Union Center, NY, with his father, Harry, and brothers Howard and Guilford. After several years in this family business Gordon went to work for New York State Electric & Gas where he retired with 27 years of service. Gordon was an avid outdoorsman, both hunting and fishing throughout his years living in Union Center. He was a devoted, long-time member of Union Center United Methodist Church. He served many years as the Church Treasurer and as the pitcher on the softball team. Gordon was a Charter Member (1957) of the Kiwanis Club of Maine, NY, and was an active member until moving to Sun City, AZ. He also was a member of Sons of the American Revolution and Mayflower Descendants.
Visiting hours are Friday, April 18, 2014 from 4 to 8 pm at Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, NY. Funeral services will be held at Union Center United Methodist Church Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 11 am, with burial to follow in the Nanticoke Valley Cemetery, Union, New York. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Union Center United Methodist Church Building Fund, 128 Maple Dr., Endicott, NY 13760, or to a charity of your choice.