John Horace Woodall Jr.

JOHN HORACE WOODALL, Jr., 97 An Honorable Legacy LAKELAND - Love and consequent duty to others motivated John Woodall in his journey through a long and fruitful adventure. Having entered life during the final term of Theodore Roosevelt, he witnessed the events of a remarkable century. He passed away January 20, 2007 at age 97 from heart failure. Mr. Woodall was born in Kissimmee, FL in 1909 and moved with his family to Lakeland when he was four years old. Through friends of the family who recognized his love for the outdoors, he was introduced to Lone Scouting in 1920, a boy scout program offered to rural areas with no affiliate. The Great Depression of 1929 interrupted his love of scouting, but in 1935 he resumed with the Gulf Ridge Boy Scout Council in Tampa. He served as a district commissioner, team leader for camporees, troop organizer, and guide for trips to Camp Philmont in New Mexico. Throughout his adult life, he sustained a deep belief in the significance of youth work. He remained faithfully committed to principles of the good scout such as loyalty, kindness, trustworthiness and the virtues of thriftiness. "Be prepared" was a motto he openly embraced, his son John recalls him often exclaiming. One of his proudest moments was being awarded the Silver Beaver and Vigil Honor Order awards, which made him an honorary Eagle Scout, a level of scouting not available to him as a young man. He attended Lakeland High School, University of Florida and graduated from Florida Southern College, being the first in his family to earn a college degree. As a student athlete he excelled in basketball, football, baseball and golf. In 1937 he married Elizabeth Hull of Plant City, a former Miss Florida, and during their 63 years together had four children: Gretchen Turner, John Woodall, III, Margaret Tapscott and Leslie Metcalf. He served his country honorably in the South Pacific during World War II as a Navy Lieutenant, J.G. Upon his return, he worked simultaneously as a city postman, owned and operated a wrecker and parts service station on Florida Avenue and alongside his father, J.H. Woodall, Sr. and brother, Paul, co-developed and operated for 40 years Woodall's Mobile Home Village. Always active in civic affairs, he served as a City Commissioner and as Lakeland's Mayor in 1966, officiated high school sports events and was an active member on the Board of Trustees of Grace Lutheran Church. Whatever his venture, it was done with the idea of contributing the best he had to give. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth and eldest daughter, Gretchen. He is survived by his remaining three children, six grandchildren: John Hull Curran, Audra Tapscott Massena, Chad Tapscott, Heath Tapscott, Gretchen Metcalf Ruby, Elizabeth Metcalf Holcomb and eleven great grandchildren. Heath Funeral Chapel www.heathfuneralchapel.com