Clifford Preston Woodward

Clifford Preston Woodward passed away peacefully on July 9, 2019, at the family home in Central Park.

Clifford Preston Woodward passed away peacefully on July 9, 2019, at the family home in Central Park. He was 96.

Cliff was a quiet man, strong in faith, generous and kind to all who knew him.

He and Maxine had been married 75 years in April. Cliff was born in Huntington Park, California, in 1923 to Carl and Johanna Woodward, the oldest of three boys. He joined the Navy during WWII and was trained as a pilot and landing signal officer, serving on the USS San Jacinto in the Pacific. He also served on carriers during the Korean War.

After returning to the mainland he was stationed in several southern and eastern states before being transferred back to California where he was Commanding Officer of the Naval and Marine Reserve Training Center in Fresno. His final duty station was at NAS Seattle as Personnel Officer when he retired in 1969.

Cliff stayed busy after retirement, building a home in Rainier, Oregon, and working in the business office and computer lab at Longview Community College. He and Maxine later moved to California, New Mexico and No. Carolina before returning to the northwest 15 years ago. They enjoyed traveling, making many trips across country and to Alaska in their RV, cruising in the Caribbean and visiting missionaries in Ecuador.

Cliff is survived by his wife Maxine; their children Claudia Woodward-Rice (Bill Rice), Sherrill Woodward, and Paul Woodward; brothers Gene and Gordon Woodward; five grandchildren and one great-grand daughter.

A memorial service is expected in August when family travel plans are set.