JAMES EARL WOODRUFF, JR., 84 of Clermont, FL, passed away on Christmas day of 2024, peacefully in his home next to the love of his life, Val. He was born in Birchardville, PA and lived his school years in Smithboro, NY. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

He was called James by some and Woody by most, including his wife. Woody's memory will be a major influence in the lives of his family as well as in the lives of those who got to know him.

After high school where he was a good student but a better athlete, Woody enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. His first duty station after boot camp and infantry combat training was to the Naval Ammunition Depot, in McAlester, OK. It was there that he met the love of his life, his future wife Val who was still in high school. After she graduated, they married on June 4, 1959. Soon their family expanded with the birth of their two children, James Edward in 1960 and Valoree Elaine in 1962. Woody decided that a Marine Corps career was their future. With his wife's wonderful support, she became the family's backbone and major guiding spirit behind her husband's Marine Corps career. There were many years of traveling, living in different places under trying conditions, making wonderful new friends, and making huge personal sacrifices while being separated many times because of the contingencies of war and Marine Corps duties.

There never was a more dedicated Marine. He served his country as enlisted from the grades of private through gunnery sergeant; warrant office through chief warrant officer W-3 and as a commissioned officer retiring as a Captain of Marines, He was always proud of the Marines that served under him and those who he served under. During his long career he served at many duty stations. His favorite and longest was the Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester, OK; from there he served at 1stBn, 10* Marines at Camp Lejeune, NC; Headquarters, 3' Marine Division in his first combat tour of duty in the Republic of Viet Nam. Upon return to the U.S. he was stationed in Texarkana, TX, training reserves at a 105mm battery of the 2d Bn, 14** Marines. From there he was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps where he worked in the office of the Chief of Staff and it was there when he selected to become an officer. After Officer Candidate School and Basic School at Quantico, VA, he again served a split tour in Vietnam as a Warrant Officer. First in the DaNang area as the Adjutant/S-1 of the 1% Bn, 13" Marines for 6 months and later in Chu Lai as the Adjutant/S-1 of the 3d Bn, 11th Marines. Upon returning to the U.S. he worked as Administrative Officer at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Philadelphia, PA and later as the Personnel Officer / Assistant Adjutant for the 4" Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District, also in Philadelphia where he was promoted to Captain. His last duty station was as the Administrative Officer at the Marine Corps Reserve Training Detachment at Willow Grove, PA. Woody was always proud of the fact that he was one of only a few Marines to have ever served in four different artillery regiments in the Marine Corps and wasn't even an artilleryman, but rather an administrator. For his distinguished United States Marine Corps service he received numerous awards throughout his career. He was honored with a Naval Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and the Navy Achievement Medal, with a total of 13 different combat and/or service ribbons and medals, plus expert rifle and pistol badges.

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps in 1977, Woody and his wife became civilians relocating to upstate New York where they became part time farmers, raising cattle and horses. His first full time job was the On-the-job Training Coordinator with the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce in Owego, NY and later became the Chamber's Executive Vice President. He also went to college in the evenings obtaining his Associate Degree in 1980 and Bachelor of Science degree in business in 1983. After leaving the Chamber, Woody and his wife also started and were successful with their commercial real estate company, Tioga Associates, in Owego, NY.

Woody also served his community well. (He went into politics, being elected from his district to serve three terms as a County Legislator in Tioga County, NY. ) He was active in the Owego Kiwanis Club serving many years as a member, their Treasurer, and served one year as a Distinguished President of that organization. He served Cornell Cooperative Extension Extension of Tioga County for eleven years, as a Board of Directors member, two terms as Vice President and two terms as President, and several years at Legislative Liaison to the Extension. Woody also served six years as Member, Board of Advisors to Tioga State Bank in Owego, NY; Appointed by the Tioga County Legislature as Board Member, Southern Tier Regional Planning and Development Board and Economic Advisory Committee he served for three years as a Member and Vice Chairman.

While in New York he was active in sports. He loved fishing and his annual trips to Canada with his wife and parents; He loved to bowl with his Thursday night bowling team. He was the highest handicapped bowler on his team, but once bowled a 767 series, over a hundred pins higher than his previous high series. He golfed in the summer league and was on the Board of Directors of the Tioga County Club, Nichols, NY. He was also a licensed New York State Real Estate Salesperson.

In October 1997, Woody and his wife sold their business and relocated to Clermont, FL. When they moved to Florida, Woody worked part-time at the Palisades Golf Course in Clermont. He became an avid golfer, with a handicap as low as 9. On 8 December 2004, Woody did in golf, what only a few people in the world ever accomplished; he had two holes-in-one, both in the same round of golf, on consecutive par three holes. They were his 2 and 3d holes-in-one. A few years later he scored his 4th hole-in-one. He was very active in the Palisades Men's Golf Association, organizing their monthly scrambles, and holding many leadership positions in the organization.

Woody was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Clermont. He was an avid reader of the Holy Bible having read it from cover to cover and re-read it often for comfort and wisdom.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents, Fannie Elizabeth Kluglein and James Earl Woodruff; by his stepfather, Max Kluglein; his older brother Raymond, a sister Arvena Lucille Johnson, a half-brother Mark; and his wonderful grandson Jesse Edward Woodruff, who was taken much too early in life. Woody is survived by his wife Val Cleta ("Clete" to Woody), his son James Edward Woodruff and wife TiAnn of Bordertown, NJ; his daughter, Valoree Elaine Anderson Eastwood of Nichols, NY and her wife Delores Eastwood, ; four grandchildren, Stacey Anderson (from around the World), Brittany Anderson-Aumick (Derek) of Cassanovia, NY, Tyler Anderson of Waverly, NY and Kristen Lea Woodruff (Jay) DeMore in NJ., brother, George Edward Woodruff and his wife Ann, of Titusville, FL; a half-brother, Donald Woodruff and his wife Jerri in Sayre, Pa, and one half-sister, Shirley Cheplick and her husband Steve in Horseheads, NY.). Woody will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Semper Fi!

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Ronald McDonald House organization.