Roger W. Woods

ROGER W. WOODS BURLINGTON - Roger W. Woods of Burlington, died on June 19, 2009, surrounded by his family following a lengthy illness. Born on Oct. 8, 1926, in Syracuse, N.Y., son of Perry B. and Margery (Otis) Woods, Roger served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from Colgate University in 1951; he retired from the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 2000, following a long career in the federal government. Survivors include his wife Barbara Arcand of Burlington; three daughters, Donna Woods and partner Dennis Benoit of Bridport, Linda Dion and partner Richard Richards of Grand Isle and Arlette Vachereau and husband Matthew of Underhill; two sons, Mark Woods of Manchester, N.H. and partner Lee Drysdale and Kirk Woods of Dover, N.H.; his first wife Arlene Woods of Burlington; two grandsons, Luke Dion and Aaron Dion; two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Amelia Dion of Essex Junction and their mother Holly Dion; three brothers, Perry Woods, Glenn Woods and Wayne Woods; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Egbert Woods in 2007. Roger was President of the North Burlington Little League for many years and active in the Northern Vermont Umpires Association. He devoted many hours as a volunteer for the Red Cross, served as an officer in NARFE, and as a referee for the Youth Football League and Burlington Amateur Hockey Association. Among his many achievements, he was most proud of the designation of Roger Woods Field at Schifilliti Park in North Burlington in honor of his many years of devotion to Little League baseball. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of the Shard Villa Residential Care Home, Salisbury, Vt., for the compassionate care he received while living there; to Addison County Home Health and Hospice nursing and physical therapy staff; and to Bernadette and Claude LaBerge of Vergennes, Vt. who cared for Roger in their home the last few months of his life and made him part of their family. Friends are invited to visit with Roger's family at a reception held in his memory at the Elks Lodge No. 916, North Avenue, on Wednesday, June 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to North Burlington Little League, c/o Steve Shifilliti, 42 Farrington, Parkway, Burlington, VT 05401, to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753, or to Shard Villa, 177 Shard Villa Road, Salisbury, VT 05469. Private burial services will be held by the family at a later date.