Waverly Woodson

Mr. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., of Clarksburg, died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 at the Wilson Health Care Center. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of the late Waverly and Edna Louise Baxter Woodson of Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr. Woodson was educated in Philadelphia public schools and graduated from Overbrook High School. After graduating from high school, he attended Lincoln University in Oxford, Pa., but interrupted his education to enlist in the United States Army, where he enrolled in the anti-aircraft Officers Candidate School. Waverly resumed his education by attending and graduating from Lincoln University - Oxford, Pa. He also graduated with honors from the Franklin School of Science and Arts as a medical technologist and X-ray technologist.

While in the Army during his initial enlistment and subsequent re-enlistment, Waverly completed tours of duty in England, France and the Pacific. He also was assigned to Fort George G. Meade, Valley Forge General Hospital, the Communicable Disease Center, Chamblee, Georgia; and Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C. where he served as the Sergeant-In-Charge-Morgue, performing all autopsies. Mr. Woodson served his country with distinction and was awarded many military decorations and citations for his service in the Army. He received the Purple Heart (wounded June 6, 1944, D-Day), Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrow Head and two Bronze Stars, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, World War II Medal, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Medal.

Upon returning to civilian life, he was employed at the National Naval Medical Center in the Bacteriology Department for several years. After leaving there, he was employed by the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Pathology Department, performing post-operative clinical procedures for open-heart surgery and all other in-patients from 1959 until 1980 when he retired. He was well-known for his hobbies, electronics, building equipment, TV and stereo accessories, woodworking, growing beautiful roses, and his collection of tropical fish.

Left to cherish his memories are his devoted wife, Joann; two daughters, Elaine Hood of New Market and Lorrayne Jackson of Laurel; and one son, Stephen of Inwood, W.Va.; six grandchildren, Michele Williams, Sherrie Williams, Tracey McDade, Joelle Williams, Brian Williams and Donnie Jackson; and 13 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Joyce Rivers and husband; one brother-in-law, James Snowden; six nephews and four nieces.

A memorial service will be held at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 608 N. Horners Lane, Rockville, Md., on Friday, Sept. 2 at noon. Military burial Arlington National Cemetery with honors on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Phone 1-800-227-2345 for information. Services by Snowden Funeral Home, Rockville.