ROGER EARL WOODRUM

1929 - 2010

Roger Earl Woodrum, CSM, US Army, retired, 80, of Mocksville, N.C., made his transition Sept. 26, 2010, at home, following a courageous 10-month battle with cancer.
Born Oct. 14, 1929, in Peoria, Ill., the son of the late Earl E. Woodrum and Faye E. (Strawbridge) Woodrum. he was reared on a large farm by his beloved maternal grandparents, George B. and Emma R. Strawbridge. He often visited his paternal grandparents, Thomas Jefferson and Annie Woodrum, who lived on a neighboring farm. Mr. Woodrum graduated in 1948 from DeKalb (Ill.) High School, where he lettered in four sports and achieved a track record that lasted until recent years. During his elementary years, he rode his pony to school and later drove his Model A to high school. He took great pride in being what he called "a farm kid." Upon graduation, he was offered several football and basketball scholarships; but upon the advice of his grandfather to "get his service over first," he enlisted in the Army in 1948.
Mr. Woodrum rose through the ranks quickly, refused a battlefield commission and retired as a Command Sgt. Major after having served in that capacity at Fort Benning and in various assignments in the Pentagon and NORAD. He was chosen as one of the first 250 Green Berets and served several tours of duty, both in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam and later in South America on Special Forces missions. While serving in the Army, his talent for music provided him the opportunity to study in Paris and Berlin, perform with some of the "big band" greats and later to teach in the music school and conduct the Army band. While in Germany, he was the featured clarinet soloist in a backup band during a performance by Elvis Presley.
Mr. Woodrum retired from the Army in 1978, with almost 32 years of highly decorated military service, after which he accepted a 15-year civil service position as a hospital administrator making a combined total of almost 46 years of government service to the country. He was devoted to God, his country and he was a protector of "family."
Mr. Woodrum is survived by his wife, Phyllis Gough, of the home; two stepchildren, Susan (Chuck) Cranfill and Steve (Tonya) Cavanaugh; four step-grandchildren, Grayson and Seth Cranfill and Ashley and Lilly Cavanaugh; four brothers, Roland, Delbert, Jamie and Michael; and one sister, Sherri.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Richard, Wayne and Freddie.
A celebration of life service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at Unity Church of Winston-Salem.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be considered for Make a Wish Foundation for Children, 6000 Meadowbrook Mall Court, Suite 28, Clemmons, N.C.; or a charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences can be made at www.eatonfuneralservice.com; 336-751-2148.