Whitson Brooks "Whit" Woodard

Whitson "Whit" Brooks Woodard passed away on December 14, 2024, in Leesburg, FL. He is predeceased by Nancy L. (nee Vines) Woodard, his wife of 38 years. Whit was born in Ohio, the son of Whitson Benjamin Woodard (b.1905-d.1978) and Elise Madge (nee Bircher) (b.1905-d.2000). He also had three sisters: Virginia (aka Ginger) Bryan (b.1923-d.2024), Fleur Crooks (b.1932-d.2022), and Linda Marryott (b.1941-d.2023). Whit also had a granddaughter, Lisa (1988), who predeceased him.
On his 17th birthday, Whit began his service in the U.S. Air Force (1955-1959). He also served with distinction in the Civil Air Patrol beginning in 1967, achieving the rank of Colonel for his service as the Chief of Chaplains.
On February 29, 1960, Whit trusted Christ as his Savior through the ministry of First Baptist Church of Eastgate, Bellevue, Washington. Beginning in 1961, Whit attended Western Baptist Bible College; working as a police officer in Richmond, California while he went to school. He was ordained in 1966 and served as a church planting missionary with the Fellowship of Baptists for Home Missions. He joined the Civil Air Patrol as a chaplain, serving from 1967 to 1973 and 1996 until he retired in 2019. In 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and served as the Civil Air Patrol's Chief of Chaplains from 2008 to 2011. After his tour as chief of chaplains, he became the Civil Air Patrol's Chief Emeritus and continued to volunteer as a chaplain to the 328th Combat Support Hospital of the U.S. Army Active Reserves; the Army Active Reserve Signal Corps High Tech Training Facility at B.T. Collins Army Reserve Center in Sacramento, CA, and Travis Air Force Base, CA.
In addition to his ministry with CAP, Whit was elected to serve a three-year term on the executive committee of the Military Chaplains Association of the USA, served as a council member for the California Association of Regular Baptist Churches and Northern California Association of Regular Baptist Churches, and wrote Ministry of Presence: Biblical Insight on Christian Chaplaincy.
He also served for 18 years as a volunteer law enforcement chaplain in Rocklin, California. He founded the Rocklin Police Department's Chaplaincy program in 2005 and eventually became a training officer, deputy senior chaplain and then senior chaplain. In May 2018 the Rocklin Police Department awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteering over 4,000 hours. In 2013 he was awarded the G. William Dando Volunteer Service award from the Military Chaplains Association.
Although Whit spent most of his life in California, in retirement, Whit and his wife Nancy retired to Florida in 2019 where they were members of Tri County Baptist Church, Lady Lake, Florida.
Whit is survived by his two sons, Timothy of Nebraska (Karrie) and John of Florida (Gloria); 5 grandchildren, Leslie, Kate, Andrew W., Alexander, and Andrew J.; and 8 great grandchildren, Garren, Lyssa, Kyrie, Caleb, Jude, Gracie, Isabel, and Sofia.
A memorial service is being planned for April 2025.
Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home of Leesburg, Florida.