Obituary of Lee F. Woodward

FOWLER - Lee F. Woodward, age 72, of Fowler, passed away on Monday, January 21, 2013 at Crouse Hospital, Syracuse. His memorial service will be held at the Fowler Baptist Church on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at Mullin's Restaurant with the women of Fowler Baptist ministering to family and friends. Arrangements are being handled by French Funeral Home, Gouverneur. Lee was born on May 16, 1940 in Watertown to the late Stanley D. and Eva (Cook) Woodward. He attended school in Watertown until he quit and went to Florida to start working. Mr. Woodward served in the U.S. Army from 1959 until his retirement in 1979. He served in the Army Signal Corp advancing from an enlisted pole lineman and retiring as a Major. While serving in the military, Lee worked to earn a Bachelor's degree. After retirement, Lee helped friends building houses in Anchorage, AK, doing various jobs, his most favorite being stonework. After working briefly for a VA-based communications company in Anchorage, he was transferred to Vancouver, WA in 1982 where he was employed by CenturyLink & went on to earn a Masters in Management. Lee married Priscilla Elaine Deskiewicz on December 27, 1980 in Anchorage, AK and they renewed their wedding vows in Vancouver in 1990. The couple has lived in Fowler for the past 12 years. The most important event in Lee's life was when he accepted Jesus into his heart and was baptized in the Columbia River in Vancouver. He was active in the Fowler Baptist Church where his faith was his mainstay and ministered to others as well. He enjoyed making canes, was a voracious reader, loved watching old Westerns and was a former avid hunter and fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla; two sons, Klaus and his wife, Cindy of Long Island, Clay and his fiance, Terri of WA; three daughters, Lea-Ann Woodward-Berst and her husband, David of NC, Sonya Woodward of WA, Stephanie Wiseman of NC; two brothers, Art and James Woodward of OH; and two sisters, Karolyn Williams and Janet Stewart of NY. Lee is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Derek & Ryan Woodward; Ashley Maria; Jeffrey, Angela & Ryan Berst; Jesse Lee & Tim Baker; and Lucas & Margot Wiseman; two great-granddaughters, Emma & Megan; and aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents; a brother, Stanley and a sister, Ruth Lalonde. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Lee's memory to Fowler Baptist Church, 8 Balmat-Fowler Rd, Gouverneur NY 13642.