Henry Earl Woodward November 29, 1925 - April 2, 2020

Henry Woodward passed away at his home in Hunter, at the age of 94. A son of Onia and Bessie Woodward, he was born in Crawford, Mississippi, and in time the family moved to Hunter. On August 25, 1942, Henry enlisted in the US Navy and served as a Second-Class Gunner’s Mate/Gun Captain on the destroyer ship, USS Ammen. He traveled throughout the Pacific Theater, was awarded a Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge on December 14, 1945.

On April 17, 1946, Henry married Bertha Seiber and spent many years working on the farm. They were blessed with three children. He was a lifelong part of the First United Methodist Church and in early years attended in Hunter. Later he joined his daughter and family in the Clarendon Methodist Church, where he was privileged to make the communion bread.

Henry was a 70-year member of the Masonic Lodge and a 32 Degree Mason. Associated service included Hunter Masonic Lodge 647, McCrory Colony Lodge 190, Order of the Eastern Star Riceland Chapter 143, Scottish Rite Valley of Arkansas and the Sarah Temple Shrine. Favorite pastimes included aviation, gardening, woodworking, photography and baking.

Preceding in death were his parents; and son, Gregory Woodward. Immediate survivors include two children and spouses, Scott and Becky Woodward, of Monticello, and Sandra and Alvin Beck, of Clarendon; brother, Bill Woodward, of Arizona; grandchildren, Jon Ford, Henry Ford, Jared Ford, Justin Beck, Jason Brown, Lindsay Gonzales, Jake Wright, and Lyndsi Thompson; nineteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services, with military honors, were held April 6 at the Hunter Cemetery by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home of Brinkley.