WOODWARD, Lt. Col. GARY, USAF Ret. Gary L. Woodward, former Mayor and councilman of Fairborn, Ohio passed away on Aug. 20, 2013 in his home after a brief illness. He was born Oct. 26, 1946 in Circleville, Ohio and moved to Greene County immediately thereafter. He was preceded in death by his son, Stewart Charles, his parents, Robert & Florence (Woodruff) Woodward, and his parents-in-law, Herbert & Bertha (Justice) Crawford all of Fairborn. He was a member of Scottish Rite, Antioch Shrine, and a 40 year member of Fairborn Lodge #764 F & AM. Gary was a Charter Member of the FBN Squadron #703-C Civil Air Patrol at Wright-Patterson AFB and served as the first Cadet Commander. He entered the USAF in 1967 as a private choosing Security Police and retired as a Lt. Col. He received many awards and decorations including the USAF Commendation Medal for supporting worldwide deployments and was honored by the Ministry of Defense United Kingdom for leadership. In recognition of his volunteer service to his community, he received the Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce, W. Ed Duncan Most Distinguished Citizen Award, United Way Outstanding Volunteer Award. He was the first Fairborn Jaycees' Man of the Year, and he received the Crystal Award from the Fairborn Senior Center. He was selected for Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in the Finance Industry. He was an honorary inductee in the Epsilon Pi Tau, Alpha Theta Chapter at Kent State University. And he was inducted into the Beavercreek High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. He was a lifetime member of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, a member of the 1,000 Club, a lifetime member of the NRA, and founder and first president of Old North Dayton Business Association. Lt. Col, Woodward is survived by his wife of 44 years, Diana Lynn (Crawford) Woodward; two daughters, Elizabeth (Marc) Dillon; and Melody (Robert, II) Gast; five grandchildren, Jonathan Gary Woodward; Aaron, Michael, and Hannah May Dillon; Alex and Noelle Gast; sister Dee Stevens; sister-in-law Linda Crawford Cloud and husband Michael Hock; Nephews Christopher (Jenny) Cloud; Ben (Barbara) Hock; Andrew (Teresa) Hock; four great-nieces and nephews; and many relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday August 30, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., with a Masonic service at 7:45 P.M., in the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn. A funeral service will be held on Saturday August 31, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in the Faircreek Church, 2400 Faircreek Ridge, Fairborn, Pastor Greg Trout officiating. Interment with full military honors to follow in the Byron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to the Fairborn Parks Foundation in Gary's name is appreciated. Condolences may be made to the family at www.BeltonStroup.com.
Dave Procuniar (1963)
WOODWARD, Lt. Col. GARY, USAF Ret. Gary L. Woodward, former Mayor and councilman of Fairborn, Ohio passed away on Aug. 20, 2013 in his home after a brief illness. He was born Oct. 26, 1946 in Circleville, Ohio and moved to Greene County immediately thereafter. He was preceded in death by his son, Stewart Charles, his parents, Robert & Florence (Woodruff) Woodward, and his parents-in-law, Herbert & Bertha (Justice) Crawford all of Fairborn. He was a member of Scottish Rite, Antioch Shrine, and a 40 year member of Fairborn Lodge #764 F & AM. Gary was a Charter Member of the FBN Squadron #703-C Civil Air Patrol at Wright-Patterson AFB and served as the first Cadet Commander. He entered the USAF in 1967 as a private choosing Security Police and retired as a Lt. Col. He received many awards and decorations including the USAF Commendation Medal for supporting worldwide deployments and was honored by the Ministry of Defense United Kingdom for leadership. In recognition of his volunteer service to his community, he received the Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce, W. Ed Duncan Most Distinguished Citizen Award, United Way Outstanding Volunteer Award. He was the first Fairborn Jaycees' Man of the Year, and he received the Crystal Award from the Fairborn Senior Center. He was selected for Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in the Finance Industry. He was an honorary inductee in the Epsilon Pi Tau, Alpha Theta Chapter at Kent State University. And he was inducted into the Beavercreek High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. He was a lifetime member of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, a member of the 1,000 Club, a lifetime member of the NRA, and founder and first president of Old North Dayton Business Association. Lt. Col, Woodward is survived by his wife of 44 years, Diana Lynn (Crawford) Woodward; two daughters, Elizabeth (Marc) Dillon; and Melody (Robert, II) Gast; five grandchildren, Jonathan Gary Woodward; Aaron, Michael, and Hannah May Dillon; Alex and Noelle Gast; sister Dee Stevens; sister-in-law Linda Crawford Cloud and husband Michael Hock; Nephews Christopher (Jenny) Cloud; Ben (Barbara) Hock; Andrew (Teresa) Hock; four great-nieces and nephews; and many relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday August 30, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., with a Masonic service at 7:45 P.M., in the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn. A funeral service will be held on Saturday August 31, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in the Faircreek Church, 2400 Faircreek Ridge, Fairborn, Pastor Greg Trout officiating. Interment with full military honors to follow in the Byron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to the Fairborn Parks Foundation in Gary's name is appreciated. Condolences may be made to the family at www.BeltonStroup.com.