George E. Woodard Sr., 88, a lifelong resident of Waterbury, passed away in the comfort of his home and family on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. Born in the family farmhouse on Loomis Hill on February 14, 1920, George was the son of the late Walter A. and Eva (Gillette) Woodard. George was previously married to the former Teresa M. Collins. On January 8, 1988, he married the former Gloria G. (Gary) Green in Waterbury.
George attended school on Loomis Hill in Waterbury Center and then as a young man worked full time on his family's dairy farm alongside his dad. A veteran of WWII serving with the U.S. Army, George returned to the farm following his discharge from the service and purchased the operation from his folks. Throughout those years they not only dairy farmed but also logged, ran a maple sugar operation and hauled milk throughout the area to the local dairy.
In 1961 George embarked on his second vocation as a heavy equipment operator, working on the Interstate 89 construction, later working for Soil Conservation during the summer months as a bulldozer operator and for the Town of Waterbury Highway Department as well as the State of Vermont Highway Department during the winters plowing snow. In 1973, George went to work for himself, purchasing a bulldozer, truck and trailer, traveling throughout central Vermont plying his skills for enumerable customers, retiring at the age of 82.
His memberships included the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 of Waterbury, the VFW Posts both in Morrisville and Waterbury, Waterbury Grange #237, and he was a 76-year member of the Waterbury Center Community Church. In his leisure time he enjoyed vegetable gardening, woodworking and making wooden toys for his grandchildren, dancing and, in his earlier years, playing the guitar.
George is survived by his wife of 20 years, Gloria Woodard of Waterbury Center; a daughter, Joanna Woodard of Woodbridge, VA; three sons, Bernard Woodard and his wife Colleen of Keene, NH, George Woodard Jr. of Waterbury Center, and Stephen Woodard and Barbara Blauvelt of Waterbury Center; a stepson, Eric Green of Everett, WA; 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Bernard "Bing" Woodard of Waterbury Center; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by two sisters, Ilene Gage and Velma Thurston, and a brother, Forrest Woodard.
Memorial services will be held from the Waterbury Center Community Church on Friday, November 14, at 11 a.m. with inurnment to follow in the Waterbury Center Cemetery. Friends may call at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
