Dr. Walter W. Woods

Clarinda, Iowa

Dec. 18, 1922-Jan. 7, 2017

Walter William Woods was born Dec. 18, 1922 on the family farm southwest of Clarinda to Everton Earl Woods and Mary Larson Woods.

Walter attended Linn Point Country School through 8th grade. He attended and graduated Clarinda High School and Clarinda Junior College. After Junior College, he enrolled in Creighton School of Dentistry and graduated in 1945. During his senior year, he and Elaine M. Carney were united in marriage Nov. 11, 1944. While in Creighton he was drafted into the Army Air Force. After graduation, the U.S. Navy took over all the Army Air Force officers and he was deployed to San Diego with the U.S. Navy. After his discharge in 1946 he returned to Clarinda and set up his dental practice. During the Korean War, he was called back to the U.S. Navy to serve at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. After his discharge, he returned to his practice in Clarinda and continued serving his patients until his death on Jan. 7 at the age of 94.

Dr. Woods was recognized in having served on the State Board and having been invited to teach in Iowa City in gold crown work, surgery or denture making. He was at one time elected into the National Academy of General Dentistry and for several years was also recognized as the oldest practicing dentist in Iowa.

On May 22, 1987, he was united in marriage to Iris Combs Kendall. Iris was his office assistant for many years. Also in the office in recent years was another assistant, Callie, his adorable cat.

Dr. Woods was a man of varied interests which included flying (his planes being Blue Belle I, Blue Belle II, and a Stinson), He was a private pilot for decades going back to the days of Ray Schenck and Schenck Field in Clarinda. He also enjoyed attending rock shows and making men's accessories with gemstones garnered at the shows, and collecting cowboy boots. He always had a variety of vehicles, and those he loved most were red-- which was by far his favorite color. He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge since his time as an officer at Lowry AFB in Denver.

Dr. Woods was preceded in death by his first wife Elaine, infant daughter Laura Marie, and parents, Earl and Mary Woods.

He is survived by his wife Iris of Clarinda; daughters, Candy Nardini of Johnston and Mary Lou Woods of Des Moines; grandson Adam Woods and wife Laurie and their daughter Mackenzie, all of North Liberty; sister Carolyn Beery of Clarinda; nephew Milo Beery of Clarinda; niece Lisa Rogers of Hawaii; and great nieces and nephews; and step children and step grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Trinity Presbyterian Church with Rev. Leslie Traylor, Renwick Adams, and Dr. Adam Woods officiating. Military Honors were provided by American Legion Sergy Post #98 of Clarinda. Interment was at Covenanter Cemetery, rural Clarinda. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanter), Southwest Iowa Humane Society, of Clarinda Founda. Walker-Merrick Funeral Home, Clarinda, provided arrangements.