Col. Robert “Bob” Woods, U.S. Army
Ret., 83, of Merrimack passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at
Catholic Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Malden, Mass., Oct.
10, 1934, to the late Mary (Regan) and George Woods Sr. Raised in Everett,
Mass., and a graduate of Malden Catholic, Bob attended Providence College where
he received a Bachelor of Education and upon graduation was commissioned as a
2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Bob spent 25 years in the Army,
including a year in Vietnam as a senior adviser to the Vietnamese troops; he
was awarded the Silver Star and several other distinguished medals. As a Lt.
Colonel, he was selected to attend the prestigious National War College in
Washington, DC. In 1980, Bob retired as a full Colonel and for the next 17
years worked at Sanders/Lockheed-Martin in its radar division.
Bob loved all sports but had a
particular love of baseball. He coached Babe Ruth for many years in Merrimack
as well as several Over 30 and Over 40 baseball teams. He was admired and
respected by many young men and is loving referred to as “Coach” to this day.
In 2008, after his youngest son was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease, he and his wife, Edna, founded the New England Parkinson’s Ride. The annual cycling event has raised more than $3.2 million for The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Despite all of his
accomplishments, Bob’s true pride and joy was his family. Married to the love
of his life, Edna (Thain) Woods, for 62 years, they raised and loved seven
children and their spouses, Robert Woods Jr. and wife, Karen, of Munsonville,
Cindy Woods Theberge and husband, Robert, Doug Woods and wife, Kim, and Chris
Woods and wife, Terry, all of Merrimack, Ronald Woods and wife, Susan, of
Alabama, Eric Woods of Georgia and Diane Woods of Ohio. Their legacy continued
on to 18 grandchildren, including Cassie (Woods) Saunders and Erikka (Woods)
Brecheisen of Munsonville, Nathan Desrosiers of Summerville, Mass., and Erin
Desrosiers, Ashville, N.C.; and 13 great-grandchildren, including Cassie’s
children, Zak, Delaney and Ellie, and the newest member of the family, Erikka’s
baby, Alice.
Family and friends are invited to
attend calling hours at the Rivet Funeral Home in Merrimack on Wednesday, Dec.
6, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be
celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Merrimack on Thursday, Dec. 7, at
9:30 a.m. with a comfort meal afterwards. Following the meal, there will be a
procession to a full military burial at the NH Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen
at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family
requests memorial donations in Bob’s memory to the New England Parkinson’s
Ride, P.O. Box 1124, Merrimack, NH 03054 or online at https://neparkinsonsride.com/in-memory-of-co-founder-bob-woods/
(select Team Woods in the drop down box).
To leave an online condolence for
the family, visit rivetfuneralhome.com.
http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/obituaries/robert-woods/article_4fd774a2-a6fb-55d3-b28d-9956ffb79c14.html
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