Albert James “Jim” Woodward November 22, 1924 – August 30, 2022, age 97, Stockton Ca. Born in Winnemucca, Nevada to Arthur and Leota (Gilbert) Woodward.
Jim is survived by his children Alan Woodward (Betsey) and Doris Benjamin (Larry), Grandchildren Jennifer Paddock (Josh), Andrew Woodward (Kimberly), Todd Woodward, Great-Grand’s Jasper Paddock and Shirley Paddock, and his sister, Marilyn Bailie. Jim’s wife Axzine pre-deceased him in 2013.
Jim was Career Navy, enlisting as a Seaman in 1943 and retiring as a LCDR in 1973. His last Duty Station was at Rough and Ready Island Navy Base, Stockton. He was a 4 war Veteran – WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. After retiring from the Navy, he attended Humphrey’s College and then he ran the business practices for Stockton Cardiology for many years. Jim was very active in the Rotary Club of Stockton, the Lincoln Presbyterian Church, and the Masonic Lodge.
Dad was an avid supporter of Read to Me, Stockton! He received their Silver Award for years of reading, only stopping when he became too frail to do so. Mom had been an early year’s elementary teacher, so he knew how important reading programs were. The kids also liked to hear of his WW2 stories.
Mom and Dad met in High School in Winnemucca. Mom grew up in the small ranching community of Paradise Valley about 40 miles north of Winnemucca. When they both graduated in 1943, Dad went into the Navy. In the summer of 1945, Dad’s ship returned from the Okinawa Campaign to Oakland for repairs, and Mom was in Sacramento attending school. They got married, a marriage that lasted 67 years until her passing. Thirty days later, his ship sailed back to the Pacific, expecting to participate in the Invasion of Japan. This ship was a “Command and Control Ship”, basically a transport ship and the Japanese knew what they were, that Admirals and Generals were aboard. Dad maintained Teletype and Cryptology systems on the ship. The war ended before the ship reached the Philippines, however Dad did not return stateside for 2 more years. He spent much of that time in China. His Navy career spanned 30 years and many duty assignments, including Hawaii, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, many West Coast Bases, and ended at Rough and Ready Island, Stockton.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday October 1, 2022, at 2PM at the Lincoln Presbyterian Church, 900 Douglas Rd, Stockton, Ca.
In lieu of flowers, any donations in Jim's honor may be made to the Read To Me, Stockton! program at the Rotary Club of Stockton or a charity of your choice.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Woodward family.
