JOHN WOODRUFF

1930 - 2014

John Wright Woodruff WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA John Wright Woodruff died peacefully in his sleep, in the company of his family, on Sunday morning, Nov. 9, 2014, at his home in Washington Crossing PA. A descendant of an old New Jersey family, Mr. Woodruff was born in Trenton, NJ, in 1930. He was a graduate of Fisk School, Junior Three, and Trenton High School. A member of the Old Guard, Mr. Woodruff was a graduate of Rutgers University, Class of 1952. He was a longtime season ticket holder and a loyal supporter of the Rutgers football team. A devotee of American history, Mr. Woodruff was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Colonial War. His great-great grandfather, George W. Woodruff, was appointed attorney general for the Georgia District by John Adams, second president of the United States. The attorney general summered at his home "Oakland" in West Trenton, now the home of the Trenton Country Club. Mr. Woodruff graduated from the U.S. Naval School Officer Candidate College in Newport, RI, and served during the Korean War as a lieutenant aboard the minesweeper USS Revenge. After beginning his business career with the Burroughs Corporation, Mr. Woodruff moved to Berwyn, PA, where he joined Wyeth-Ayerst International Inc. and served as vice president of international relations. Mr. Woodruff was a man of many interests and talents. An avid collector of antiques, he prided himself on his family collection of clocks and American furniture from Philadelphia. He spent many happy hours in his garden and was considered something of an expert on English boxwoods, holly, and azaleas. Mr. Woodruff was a regular Pied Piper for his 20 grandchildren and loved sharing knowledge of birds and fishing, and introducing them to the joys of poetry. He enjoyed spending his summers in Avalon, NJ -- "at the shore" -- and after his retirement in 1995, he began to escape the cold winters by heading south to Jupiter, FL. Predeceased by his parents, Marion and George E. Woodruff, and his brother, George H. Woodruff, he was also pre-deceased in 1987 by his first wife, Margaret Hoff Woodruff. Mr. Woodruff is survived by his present wife, Linda Hoff Woodruff; a sister, Betsy Brewster and her husband Jim; his daughter, Susan Howard, her husband, Matt, and their three children, Grace, Lilly and Liam; four sons: John H., his wife Stacey, and daughter Samantha; William H., his wife Stephanie, and their three children, Natalie, Will, and Peter; Tom W., his wife, Lisa, and their children, Katherine and Jack, and Robert H. and his dog Bop; four stepchildren: Courtney White, her husband George, and sons Reed and Charlie, Harper Collins, her husband Dan, and sons, Hutch, Jack and Ford: John F. Hoff, his wife Heather, and their four children, Margaret, Elizabeth, John, and William; William C. Hoff, his wife, Amy, and their daughters, Chloe and Hannah. In addition, Mr. Woodruff was uncle to a drove of nieces and nephews. Mr. Woodruff was also a member of various organizations and clubs, including the Newtown Presbyterian Church, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Trenton Country Club and the Nassau Club in Princeton. Services will be held at the Newtown Presbyterian Church on Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. The calling hour will be held before the service at 10 a.m. in the church reception rooms. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the Parkinson Alliance in Kingston, NJ. Swartz-Givnish Funeral Home 323 Washington Ave. Newtown, PA 18940 (215) 968-3891