John Wythe “J.” Woods Jr., 94, formerly of Hayes, and Madison, W.Va., passed away on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. J. was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Churchill Woods; his son, Michael Wayne Woods; his sister, Sally Elizabeth Woods; his parents, John Wythe and Hazel Gladys (Hash) Woods; and his son-in-law, James H. “Jim” Redmond.
J. is survived by, and will be greatly missed by, his brothers, Walter R. Woods of Naperville, Ill. and Harold G. Woods (Dawn Rita) of Gordon, W.Va. and their families; by son, John W. Woods III and wife Julie of White Stone, and their children Katherine M. Woods (Taylor Strand) and J. Wythe Woods; son Gregory S. Woods and wife Bonnie of Barboursville, VA and their children Jayson M. Woods (Amber) and Matthew S. Woods; daughter, Cheryl Woods Olander of Richmond, and her children Rebecca W. Christian (Will) and Margaret R. Olander; daughter, Pamela Woods Redmond of Topping; son, Michael’s wife Margaret N. “Peggy” Woods of St. Augustine, Fla. and their children Michael A. Woods and Christopher W. Woods; son, Patrick L. Woods and wife Grace of Weirton, W.Va. and their children Noah F. Woods (Courtney) and Chloe E. Woods; and son, Christopher J.T. Woods and wife Johnna of Richmond, and their son John Wallace Woods. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Austin, Abigail and Amelia Woods, James and Thomas Christian, and Remi Mae Strand.
J. grew up on farms in Grayson County. Upon graduation from Welch High School, W.Va. in 1947, where he was voted “Who You Would Most Like to Date,” “Biggest Flirt” and “Most Handsome,” J. enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his first enlistment, J. served at Camp Lejeune and upon the USS New Jersey and the USS Rochester during cruises to the Mediterranean Sea. J. was honorably discharged, although in 1950, he was recalled to active duty due to the Korean Conflict, rising to the rank of sergeant.
J. then attended West Virginia Institute of Technology graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1957 (while working the hoot owl shift in the mines, with three small children, and completing his degree in three years). J. began working in the coal industry for Eastern Gas & Fuel Associates, Westmoreland Coal Company and Carbon Fuel Company, primarily as director of Purchasing and Maintenance, as well as other mining entities. J. was also involved with the beginning of Longwall Mining in West Virginia and was an invited guest at mining operations in Great Britain, South Africa and Germany.
After retiring, in addition to being an avid reader and a master at the grill, J. enjoyed babysitting his grandchildren and spent his time hunting and fishing with his sons and their children, as well as his many close friends.
A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. A memorial marker will also be placed at one of J.’s favorite hunting spots. Should you wish to make a donation in J.’s memory, please consider supporting Tunnel to Towers Foundation at “t2t.org.”
Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda is assisting the family.
