Roy N. Woods, born to Hattie and Robert Woods, 19 May 1908, in Medical Lake, Washington. He joined the United States Coast Guard in 1931. On March 5, 1932 Roy married Beatrice Fern Canaris of Ocasta, Washington. On May 7th, 1937, while serving as a Surfman, stationed at the Grays Harbor Lifeboat Station, Mr. Woods (with only four other Coast Guardsmen) saved the lives of 28 crewmen from the sinking steamer, SS Trinidad, off of the coast of Willapa Bay, which earned him the USCG Gold Life-Saving Medal.
In 1947 Mr Woods graduated from Aids to Navigation School in Groton, Connecticut. After living in many coastal communities he was finally transfered to Tongue Point where he retired, living many years on Clover Lane just outside of Astoria, Oregon. After retiring from the Coast Guard Mr. Woods started his second career as the head custodial engineer, first of Central Grade School and then of the newly built Astoria Junior High.
In 1967 Mr. Woods was elected to serve on the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Clatsop County. He continued serving the Baha'i community for the next 35 years. At the age of 90 Roy, and his 86 year old wife Beatrice, volunteered for six months at a Social and Economic Development project, serving the educational needs of children and youth, in McKenna, Washington.
At heart a global citizen himself, Roy's children and grandchildren have traveled the world adding to the mosaic tapestry of his family's culture. His children are English, Irish, Scottish, Greek and Italian. His grandchildren add the heritages of the Dominican Republican, Aleutian, Prussian, German, French and Scandanavian cultures. His great-grandchildren bring to the family the heritages of the Hispanic, African, English, Russian, Hawaiin, Japanese and Cherokee people. Roy served his country and loved this world well. His legacy lies in doing his part to help bring the peoples of the world together, one genration at a time.
Roy was preceded in death by one grandchild, Badi Amin Woods and five of his siblings and their spouses: Robert & Gladys Woods; Cecil and Ruby Woods; Junea and Don Kriens, Gladys and Andrew Cole, Maude and Roy Nelson and William Greenfield. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice F. Woods, his sister Elaine Greenfield, Seaside, Or and his five children and their spouses: Beryl and Henry Castle, Indiana; Dale and Estela Woods, El Llano, Dominican Republic; Terrill and Jim Stassen, Hood River, Oregon; Jerry Bartoldus and Richard Bartoldus, Astoria, Or; Dixie and Jim Perry, Bothell, Washington. In the last year of his life he was lovingly taken care of by James Owen, Sr and his grandchildren, Jimmy and Shelly Owen and his greatgrandchildren James, Anthony, Creek, Kaneah, Spark and Jeremy whose care for Grandpa Roy was deeply appreciated by all.
Roy is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Graveside services at the Oceanview Cemetery in Warrenton, Oregon, will be held June 28th at 10:30 am. A memorial service will be held July 11th. Flowers can be sent to Hughes Ransom Mortuary, 576 12th St Astoria, OR 97103-4124 Phone: (503) 325-2535. Contributions may be made to the Children's Museum in Astoria. Members of the Baha'i community can make contributions to the Kingdom Project and/or local children's classes.
Condolences can be sent to 91290 Lewis and Clark RD, Astoria, OR 97103)
Jenni and EJ Rimbaugh (2 children: Sara and Jordan)
Jimmy and Shelly Owen (6 children: James, Anthony, Creek, Kaneah, Spark, Jeremy
Jeremy and Julie Owen (2 children: Lindsi and Max)
Jarod Owen
"And as ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the balance, this is the balance, this is the balance." 'Abdu'l-Baha
Ya Baha’ul-Abha, Ya’Aliyyu’l-Ala
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Badi Amin Woods (preceded grandpa, 1979)
