Joe Woods

Joe Woods

Mesa - Joe Woods, one of Mesa's key leaders over the decades, passed away on Friday morning, March 9, after a brief illness.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nina, his son Grant, daughter-in-law Marlene, grandchildren Austin, Lauren, Cole, Dylan, and Ava, sisters Ann Conway and Pat Edwards.

Joe grew up in the panhandle of Oklahoma and moved to the Valley after graduating from high school. He worked as a carpenter's apprentice in downtown Phoenix at age 18 and over the years proceeded up the ranks to every job on the construction site and in the office. He had an impressive career with Kitchell Contractors and then joined with Sam Kitchell and Peter Bidstrup to start Doubletree Inns. After ten years with Doubletree, he started his own construction company, Joe E. Woods, Inc., which grew to be one of the biggest and best contractors in the Southwest. Joe's buildings are everywhere in the Valley, including hospitals, office high-rises, hotels, and the beautiful remodel of the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

Joe Woods was Mesa Man of the Year and named by the Mesa Tribune as the most influential person in the city in 1986.

He served on the board of directors of the Mesa United Way, Valley of the Sun United Way, Mesa Rotary, Sunshine Acres, MARC School, Samaritan Health Hospital, Mesa Salvation Army, Arizona State University East, and Mesa Country Club. He was a generous supporter and benefactor of the Phoenix Children's Museum, the East Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, and PreHab/New Leaf. He was a member of the original Rio Salado Advisory Board and was a 2005 ASU Alumnus of the Year recipient. He served in every leadership post at First Presbyterian Church in Mesa. He was a Scoutmaster with the Boys Scouts and coach in Little League and Pony League.

Joe served his country in Korea and embodied the basic American ideals in all that he did. He loved Arizona State where he attended at night while working construction, and enjoyed his later years as a student at Harvard Business School. He spent his life caring and working for others and was truly selfless. He married his childhood sweetheart and they were the closest of couples all of his life. He was a loving and supportive father who was proud of his son. He loved his grandchildren and taught them by example. He was much loved by his many friends and family.

Services will be at First Presbyterian Church in Mesa at noon on Tuesday, March 13.