Ray L. Woods

Ray L. Woods, Sr., 86, died Monday, September 21, 2015 at his home.

He leaves behind four children: Ray L. Woods Jr. of Port Orchard, WA; Frank H. Woods of Cullman, AL; Michael L. Woods of Cullman, AL; and Daniel E. Woods of Michigan; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Ray was born to Frank Herschel Woods and Edith May Wolfsen on December 3, 1928, the youngest of 13 children. He served in the United States Navy from 1945 – 1947 on the USS Lowry and was present at the 1946 Bikini Atoll nuclear testing. He received a WWII Victory Medal in 1947.

In 1949, he married Arlene Tellinghuisen. They lived in Port Orchard and had four boys. She preceded him in death in 1996.

After his stint in the service, he worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He worked at PSNS for a total of 37 years; in 1947 he began working as a Shipfitter Apprentice. His success there led him to be transferred permanently to the Planning Department as a Naval Architect, where he remained until his retirement in 1984. Until his death, he maintained an avid interest in naval architecture.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 15th at 3pm at Rill' Life Tribute Center. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are welcomed.