Woods, Larry Gayle 1934-2013

WOODS, BURCH, WRAGE, GONZALES, CORWITH, ALLPHIN, SCHWEET

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/13/2015 at 18:29:59

Larry Gayle Woods, 78, of Winterville, North Carolina, died of complications of ALS at his home on January 28, 2013. He was comforted by his wife and his children during his final days. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City, Iowa.

The son of Raymond A. and Lorena M. Woods of rural Mitchellville, Iowa, he was born May 20, 1934 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a native of Jasper County, Iowa, and a fifth generation farmer until his move to North Carolina in December, 2010.

He attended rural Jasper County schools, and was a 1952 graduate of Mitchellville High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Iowa State University in 1956. A participant in the U.S. Army R.O.T.C. program there, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1956 as well.

After advanced training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he married Orian Dale Burch of Webster Groves, Missouri March 16, 1957, and left for active duty a few days later. He was stationed in Bad Hersfeld, Germany during the cold war until November, 1958, as First Lieutenant.

The couple returned to the family farming operation, where they raised their family of six children and lived for 52 years. In addition to his farming career, he was employed for nearly twenty years as a rural mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Colfax, Iowa.

Gayle was a member of the Mitchellville Cooperative board, treasurer of the Mitchellville Christian Church board, a member and president of the Prairie City Community Schools board, and a member of the Inner Peace Movement board. He was also a member of I.O.O.F. lodge, and sang with a Barbershop Quartet chorus in Des Moines, IA.

Throughout his adult life, Gayle's hobbies included being a private aircraft pilot, starting with his ground school and initial flight training while stationed in Germany. He especially enjoyed attending the Experimental Aviation Association airshows held at OshKosh, WI with his friends, children and grandchildren.

Gayle was a devoted friend and neighbor and took in pleasure in helping others whenever he could. He was known for his strength and creativity as well has his ability to use an item for other than its intended purpose. Known to his friends as "Woody," he always loved sharing jokes and lending a helping hand to his neighbors.

Gayle was a devoted grandfather and was known to his eight grandchildren as "Poppa". He tremendously enjoyed spending time with them and attending their sporting events. He delighted in sharing humor with his daughters by giving his grandchildren "special" gifts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lorena Woods, his brothers Don Woods and Max Woods and his daughter Miriam Woods.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Orian, daughters Elizabeth (Wayne) Wrage, Sara Gonzales, Rachel (Joel) Corwith, Esther Woods, his son Daniel (Terri) Woods, grandchildren Wes (Kate) Wrage, Brad Wrage, Allison Wrage, Rick Gonzales, Greg Gonzales, Ben Corwith, Alex Corwith, and Abigail Corwith. Also surviving are his sisters, Beverly (Paul) Allphin and Shirley Schweet.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 8:00 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013, at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City, IA. The family will host a meal following the funeral at the Prairie City Community Room. Friends and family are invited to share fellowship.

Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association, Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter, 4 N. Blount Street, 2nd Floor, Raleigh, NC 27601. ~ Prairie City News, Prairie City, Iowa, January 31, 2013