Lt. Col. Woodrow C. Marcus USAF, Retired

LACEY, Wash. - Lt. Col. Woodrow C. Marcus, USAF, Retired, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at the Panorama City Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center in Lacey, with his wife of 67 years, Cherrie, by his side.

The first of three sons of Swedish-born parents, Dr. Carl Anderson Marcus and Anna Johnson Marcus, Woodrow was born in Laurel, Mont., on Feb. 22, 1913. Second son Erland was also born in Laurel when Dr. Marcus was a dentist in Laurel from 1911 to 1917. Then the family moved to Bridger, where the third son, Wayne, was born. Following graduation from Bridger High School in 1931, he attended Huron College in South Dakota on a vocal music scholarship for two years. In June of 1939, he attained a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan, and also began his 33-year military career during which he served in World War II and the Korean War and participated in 154 NASA space launches.

On June 7, 1941, Woodrow married Cherrie Riley in Paterson, N.J. During his Air Force service, they had homes in several locations and, after retirement, they lived in Solvang, Calif., Kaiser, Ore., and for the past 12 years have been residents at Panorama City in Lacey.

Woodrow was well known as a volunteer in the Panorama Retirement community. His hobby was woodworking and, over the past several years, he handcrafted dozens of beautiful scale-model miniature covered wagons, which he generously shared with family and friends.

His memberships in fraternal organizations included Lompoc Santa Ynez Masons, Shriners, Elks and the Military Officers Association of America.

His wife, Cherrie, and brother, Wayne P. Marcus of Big Timber and Wibaux, Mont., and several nieces and nephews survive him.

The family hosted a remembrance reception on Jan. 25. Memorial services with military honors will be held in Montana at a later date. Interment will be at the family plot at Rockvale Cemetery.