Orville Hoyte Woods, age 87, left this earthly life to enter glory on September 9th, following a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his loving family in his home.
Mr. Woods was born and raised on his family’s farm in Smithland, Tennessee. He was the youngest of seven children born to the late Tom S. Woods and Vespher Bostick Woods. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Hoyte Woods in 1985, two brothers, Thomas E Woods and Ross Woods, and a sister Elaine Woods Powell.
At a young age, he made the decision to follow Christ as a member of the Smithland Community Church. In later years, he attended the Kelso Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and when his health was failing, he watched Adrian Rodgers.
After graduating from Flintville High School in 1955, he joined the Navy and served for four years on the USS Essex. After his discharge he was among the first to be hired at NASA in Huntsville, where he was employed for over 30 years, receiving numerous awards, including the Silver Snoopy Award. On December 5, 1964, he married Linda Owens, the love of his life. Together they had four children. After retirement he devoted his full time to farming.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Linda Owens Woods, Son, William Thomas Woods (Elmy), Sarah Woods Smith (Cole) and Anna Woods Shasteen (Mark), grandchildren Oryle Woods Counceller (Kevin), Thomas Edward Woods (Hanah), Robert Woods, Coleman Smith, Ben Smith, and Aidan Smith, 3 great grandchildren, brother Ray B. Woods, sisters Emogene Woods Taylor and Lila Faye Woods Walker.
Orville will be remembered for many things including his generous spirit, willingness to help others and especially his love of his family, his heart’s pride, and joy. His was a life well lived and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Graveside funeral service for Orville H. Woods, will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Riverview Memorial Gardens with Rev. Tony Gaskin officiating. There will be no visitation prior to the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 or Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic, 1237 Huntsville Hwy Suite E, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Orville H. Woods.