Michael Wayne Woodruff (Woody), of Sammamish, WA, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019. He was 70 years old.
Woody was born on January 30, 1949 in Harrison, Arkansas, the son of Wayne and Mildred (Jeanie) Woodruff. A former military brat, he spent his childhood traveling with his family for his father's Air Force career, finally settling in Tacoma, Washington. After graduating from Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, Washington he started working at The Boeing Company while also taking flying lessons. It was at Boeing where he met his future wife, Leah Linda Beck. In 1969, Woody was drafted to the United States Army. It was during Basic Military Training that his squad leader saw his skill and realizing that he had taken flying lessons, Woody was selected to take UH-1 "Huey" helicopter training. He served in the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971, flying Huey's. After returning home to Seattle, Washington, Woody continued service in the Army Reserves, flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and working for Horizon Airlines, The Forest Service, the Sabey Corporation and finally landing his dream job at the Boeing Company. At Boeing, Woody would go on to fly helicopters, small jets and large jets. Throughout his flying career, he would receive additional ratings on the following aircrafts: Cessna Citation (CE-650, CE-500); Challenger (CL-604, CL-600); Boeing Airplanes (B-767, B-757, B-737). The airplane he ended his career with was the Boeing Business Jet (B-737) where he got the opportunity to fly and experience cultures all around the world.
Woody loved to travel annually to Waikiki, Hawaii with his wife and daughters. He was an avid sports fan and loved Baseball, Football, Nascar and Formula 1 (one of his favorite memories is being able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, in-person). A pilot since he was 19 years old, his love of airplanes was infectious. Woody was also a car enthusiast, his favorite being his Corvettes.
He was a proud American and took great interest in war history. Woody would tell anyone that his favorite thing to do is spend time with "his girls".
Woody is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Leah Linda Woodruff; his daughters Natalie and Christina Woodruff of Belltown, WA; sister Corky Brown (Laird) of Santa Fe, NM; brother Mark Woodruff (Deanna) of Sammamish, WA and brother Mitch Woodruff (Mary Ann) of University Place, WA; his parents Wayne and Jeanie Woodruff of Tacoma, WA.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, Thursday, December 19 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042. Following the service, there will be a gathering with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made in Michael W. Woodruff's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Woody was born on January 30, 1949 in Harrison, Arkansas, the son of Wayne and Mildred (Jeanie) Woodruff. A former military brat, he spent his childhood traveling with his family for his father's Air Force career, finally settling in Tacoma, Washington. After graduating from Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, Washington he started working at The Boeing Company while also taking flying lessons. It was at Boeing where he met his future wife, Leah Linda Beck. In 1969, Woody was drafted to the United States Army. It was during Basic Military Training that his squad leader saw his skill and realizing that he had taken flying lessons, Woody was selected to take UH-1 "Huey" helicopter training. He served in the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971, flying Huey's. After returning home to Seattle, Washington, Woody continued service in the Army Reserves, flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and working for Horizon Airlines, The Forest Service, the Sabey Corporation and finally landing his dream job at the Boeing Company. At Boeing, Woody would go on to fly helicopters, small jets and large jets. Throughout his flying career, he would receive additional ratings on the following aircrafts: Cessna Citation (CE-650, CE-500); Challenger (CL-604, CL-600); Boeing Airplanes (B-767, B-757, B-737). The airplane he ended his career with was the Boeing Business Jet (B-737) where he got the opportunity to fly and experience cultures all around the world.
Woody loved to travel annually to Waikiki, Hawaii with his wife and daughters. He was an avid sports fan and loved Baseball, Football, Nascar and Formula 1 (one of his favorite memories is being able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, in-person). A pilot since he was 19 years old, his love of airplanes was infectious. Woody was also a car enthusiast, his favorite being his Corvettes.
He was a proud American and took great interest in war history. Woody would tell anyone that his favorite thing to do is spend time with "his girls".
Woody is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Leah Linda Woodruff; his daughters Natalie and Christina Woodruff of Belltown, WA; sister Corky Brown (Laird) of Santa Fe, NM; brother Mark Woodruff (Deanna) of Sammamish, WA and brother Mitch Woodruff (Mary Ann) of University Place, WA; his parents Wayne and Jeanie Woodruff of Tacoma, WA.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, Thursday, December 19 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042. Following the service, there will be a gathering with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made in Michael W. Woodruff's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Michael Wayne Woodruff (Woody), of Sammamish, WA, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019. He was 70 years old.
Woody was born on January 30, 1949 in Harrison, Arkansas, the son of Wayne and Mildred (Jeanie) Woodruff. A former military brat, he spent his childhood traveling with his family for his father's Air Force career, finally settling in Tacoma, Washington. After graduating from Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, Washington he started working at The Boeing Company while also taking flying lessons. It was at Boeing where he met his future wife, Leah Linda Beck. In 1969, Woody was drafted to the United States Army. It was during Basic Military Training that his squad leader saw his skill and realizing that he had taken flying lessons, Woody was selected to take UH-1 "Huey" helicopter training. He served in the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971, flying Huey's. After returning home to Seattle, Washington, Woody continued service in the Army Reserves, flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and working for Horizon Airlines, The Forest Service, the Sabey Corporation and finally landing his dream job at the Boeing Company. At Boeing, Woody would go on to fly helicopters, small jets and large jets. Throughout his flying career, he would receive additional ratings on the following aircrafts: Cessna Citation (CE-650, CE-500); Challenger (CL-604, CL-600); Boeing Airplanes (B-767, B-757, B-737). The airplane he ended his career with was the Boeing Business Jet (B-737) where he got the opportunity to fly and experience cultures all around the world.
Woody loved to travel annually to Waikiki, Hawaii with his wife and daughters. He was an avid sports fan and loved Baseball, Football, Nascar and Formula 1 (one of his favorite memories is being able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, in-person). A pilot since he was 19 years old, his love of airplanes was infectious. Woody was also a car enthusiast, his favorite being his Corvettes.
He was a proud American and took great interest in war history. Woody would tell anyone that his favorite thing to do is spend time with "his girls".
Woody is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Leah Linda Woodruff; his daughters Natalie and Christina Woodruff of Belltown, WA; sister Corky Brown (Laird) of Santa Fe, NM; brother Mark Woodruff (Deanna) of Sammamish, WA and brother Mitch Woodruff (Mary Ann) of University Place, WA; his parents Wayne and Jeanie Woodruff of Tacoma, WA.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, Thursday, December 19 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042. Following the service, there will be a gathering with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made in Michael W. Woodruff's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Woody was born on January 30, 1949 in Harrison, Arkansas, the son of Wayne and Mildred (Jeanie) Woodruff. A former military brat, he spent his childhood traveling with his family for his father's Air Force career, finally settling in Tacoma, Washington. After graduating from Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, Washington he started working at The Boeing Company while also taking flying lessons. It was at Boeing where he met his future wife, Leah Linda Beck. In 1969, Woody was drafted to the United States Army. It was during Basic Military Training that his squad leader saw his skill and realizing that he had taken flying lessons, Woody was selected to take UH-1 "Huey" helicopter training. He served in the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971, flying Huey's. After returning home to Seattle, Washington, Woody continued service in the Army Reserves, flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and working for Horizon Airlines, The Forest Service, the Sabey Corporation and finally landing his dream job at the Boeing Company. At Boeing, Woody would go on to fly helicopters, small jets and large jets. Throughout his flying career, he would receive additional ratings on the following aircrafts: Cessna Citation (CE-650, CE-500); Challenger (CL-604, CL-600); Boeing Airplanes (B-767, B-757, B-737). The airplane he ended his career with was the Boeing Business Jet (B-737) where he got the opportunity to fly and experience cultures all around the world.
Woody loved to travel annually to Waikiki, Hawaii with his wife and daughters. He was an avid sports fan and loved Baseball, Football, Nascar and Formula 1 (one of his favorite memories is being able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, in-person). A pilot since he was 19 years old, his love of airplanes was infectious. Woody was also a car enthusiast, his favorite being his Corvettes.
He was a proud American and took great interest in war history. Woody would tell anyone that his favorite thing to do is spend time with "his girls".
Woody is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Leah Linda Woodruff; his daughters Natalie and Christina Woodruff of Belltown, WA; sister Corky Brown (Laird) of Santa Fe, NM; brother Mark Woodruff (Deanna) of Sammamish, WA and brother Mitch Woodruff (Mary Ann) of University Place, WA; his parents Wayne and Jeanie Woodruff of Tacoma, WA.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, Thursday, December 19 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042. Following the service, there will be a gathering with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made in Michael W. Woodruff's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
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