John Carter "Rusty" Woolard

John Carter "Rusty" Woolard, age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in the early hours on Friday, August 4th 2023.
Rusty was born and raised in Washington, NC, and graduated from Washington High School in 1963. He had a great joy for baseball and played for many years; famed for being one of the outstanding performers ever produced at Washington High School. In 1963, as a high school senior he signed a Uniform Player Contract with The Pittsburgh Pirates. At 18 years old, an ace pitcher, at that time, he became the first local baseball player in almost two decades to sign a professional baseball contract in Beaufort County. In March of 1965, he met the love of his life Joyce Barrow, saying the day he met her that he knew she would be the one he would marry. Rusty and Joyce were married for 57 years and lived in Craven County where they made their home and raised their family. Rusty was employed with the Craven County Sheriff's Office for many years under the direction of the late Sheriff Pete Bland; rising through the ranks, ultimately finishing his career as a Lieutenant with the Criminal Investigative Division. During his tenure with the Sheriff's office he was instrumental in cultivating many programs such as the Craven County Community Crime Watch Program which was the forerunner of the Crime Stoppers tip line; initiating numerous training programs for fellow employees, one in particular being the incorporation of the first portable drug testing kit for Craven County. In 1987, he was awarded the Outstanding Governor's Award by being cited for his efforts in crime prevention, particularly with the Crimestoppers program. The Crime Stoppers program became one of the most successful programs in the state, as being awarded in the years to come. In 1989, Rusty was appointed as a Craven County Magistrate where he served until his retirement in 2008.
Rusty was preceded in death by his father Lindsay, mother Marion, and brothers Robin and Mac Woolard.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Woolard, daughter Wendy Craft and husband Dennis, daughter Karen Roberg and husband Tony, grandchildren Michael James, Ashton Craft, and Alexa Thomas, and great-grandchildren Jaci Rae and Colton James.
Rusty enjoyed hunting and fishing dearly, his greatest love was the time he spent in serving others in many capacities. +
In keeping with his love and service to others, as well as the safety of the community; the family is asking in lieu of flowers that donations be made to West Vanceboro Church of God Benevolence fund, P.O. Box 486, Vanceboro, NC, or the Craven County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers Program, 1100 Clarks Road, New Bern, NC 28560.
A Memorial of Rusty's life will be held at West Vanceboro Church of God, 2360 NC-43, Vanceboro, NC on Saturday August 12, 2023 at 12 noon. The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the church.
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