John Franklin Woodruff

WOODRUFF SPARTA - John Franklin Woodruff, age 77, of 153 North Main Street, Sparta, died Saturday evening, April 25, 2009, at the Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. He was born in the Stratford Community of Alleghany County on November 4, 1931 to the late, Wilmer C. Woodruff and Flossie Miller Woodruff. He graduated from Sparta High School in 1949. He attended Pfeiffer Junior College from 1950 to 1952. In 1954, he graduated from Appalachian State University and began his life long career as an educator and administrator. He taught at Piney Creek High School from 1956 until 1966 and was selected Alleghany County Superintendent of Schools, a post he held from 1965 until retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Sparta United Methodist Church and was teacher of the John Woodruff Sunday School Class. He served on the board of Blue Ridge Electric for 39 years, both as secretary and chairman. He was founder and president of Alleghany County Educational Foundation, served as president of the Alleghany County Recreation Commission, director of the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees, serving one year as president. He was a long time member of Sparta Lions Club, a member of the Northwest Development Association, Alleghany County Soil and Water District, New River Highlands Resource and Conservation, the Alleghany County Rescue Squad, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the Alleghany Unit of Retired School Personnel, the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, and the National Education Association. In 2002, he was inducted by Appalachian State University into the Rhododendron Society in recognition for his service to education. In October of 2008, he was honored as a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest North Carolina civilian honor. John Woodruff will be long remembered for his quality leadership resulting in the advancement in education in Alleghany County. His pastime and passion was his family, his farm and cattle. He is survived by his wife, Rita Woodruff; and his son, Jay Woodruff of Raleigh; his brother, Bill Woodruff and wife, Hilda of Albemarle; and his sister, Ellen Smith and husband, Paul of Laurel Springs. He was preceded in death by his brother, Guy Woodruff. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, other relatives and many friends. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Sparta United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the funeral service to lie in state. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday evening at the Grandview Memorial Funeral Home in Sparta. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Alleghany Education Foundation, the John Woodruff Scholarship Fund, 85 Peachtree St, Sparta, NC 28675.