Earl Lowry DeWoody, Jr.

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Obituary

Earl L. DeWoody, age 92, of Columbus, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2015, at Sunrise on the Scioto. Earl was born in Denver, Colorado, on April 8, 1922 to the late Anna Smith DeWoody and Earl L. DeWoody, Sr. He is preceded in death by his younger brother, Robert DeWoody in 1940. Earl graduated from West High School, Denver, Colo., and later attended UCLA's Extension Program. After moving to California in 1940, he worked at the Douglas Aircraft Company where, with guidance from his maternal uncle, Arthur Smith, he began as a machinist. Earl eventually became manager of the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Industrial Engineering Section in Huntington Beach, Cal. He retired from McDonnell Douglas Astronautics in 1984. During his early years at Douglas Aircraft, Earl was a member of the Machinist Union. He later was a member of the National Estimating Society and served as the regional manager of that organization for the L.A. Coastal Area. Earl was a WWII Navy veteran, serving in the Construction Battalion as a Machinist Mate from 1944 to 1946 and was stationed in the Philippines. Although his profession and marriage provided Earl with exemption from military service during WWII, he enlisted because he said it was his duty to serve with the other young men going to war. After the war, Earl served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1949 to 1954. On May 1, 1943, Earl married Naomi Cummings in Ocean Park, CA. Earl is survived by Naomi, his wife of 71 years; and by his three sons, Earl L. (Phyllis) DeWoody, III of East Sound, WA; Bruce A. (Suzanne) DeWoody of Columbus, and Robert L. (Stephanie) DeWoody of Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by grandchildren, Keri, Todd, Brett and Trevor DeWoody, and numerous nieces and nephews. Earl lived in Santa Monica, Venice, Fountain Valley, and Irvine, CA before retiring in 1984 after working for more than 43 years at McDonnell Douglas (now The Boeing Company). After retiring in Southern CA and before moving to Columbus in 2008, Earl and Naomi lived above Smuggler’s Cove on San Juan Island, WA for 20 years. Earl was extremely adept at woodworking and design projects and was an avid gardener, a pastime that he enjoyed almost daily past the age of 90. Earl and Naomi were members of the San Juan Island Garden Club and greatly enjoyed hosting parties for the garden club at their residence. Private family services entrusted with JOHN QUINT TREBONI, 1177 W. Fifth Avenue, Columbus. The family wishes to thank the staff of Sunrise on the Scioto and Hospice of Methodist Elder Care for their compassionate care for the past several months. Condolences may be sent to Naomi DeWoody, Sunrise on the Scioto, 3500 Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43221.


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