Obituary for Don Woodworth

Don E Woodworth

(March 4, 1940 – January 7, 2017)

Don Elwood Woodworth, 76, went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, January 7, 2017 with his family by his side. Arrangements have been entrusted to Trout Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 12th at Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplin Tom Howard Officiating. Don was born on March 4, 1940 in Arnett, Oklahoma to Leo and Elma (Saathoff) Woodworth. He was raised in the Arnett area and graduated from Arnett High School in 1958 where he was active in band, journalism, and baseball. He helped his parents with the family business and the family farm where he raised calves for 4H. His first job was at the local movie theater where he did a great job except the day he watched a movie a little too intently and burned the popcorn forcing everyone to evacuate. It became a life long joke. Don’s dad bought a Tastee Freeze where Don worked part time which started his love for ice cream.

He attended Oklahoma State University graduating with a bachelor degree in Accounting. While attending OSU he drove back to Arnett every weekend to work at his fathers Deep Rock Station where he learned to be an excellent mechanic.

In the early 1960’s Don joined the Army Reserves completing his service in August, 1968.

On September 20th, 1963 Don married Joann Wells Parker also from Arnett. With Joann came her two daughters Lisa and Angela whom Don adopted.

Don joined Continental Oil Company in 1963 in the Accounting Department and completed a 32 year career in Cash Management and Banking in Treasury Department for Conoco.

For his girls he volunteered as the Treasurer for the Po-Hi Band Parents Association for 5 years also running the popcorn machine (without burning any).

Some of his hobbies were woodworking, working on cars, restoring antiques and traveling extensively. Don and Joann traveled around the US in their many RV’s including a trip to Alaska with their favorite vacation spots being the mountains of Colorado. More recently he enjoyed giving his cats a nice warm lap to curl up on.

After retiring they moved to Kerrville, Texas to enjoy the Texas Hill Country and their friends. They left Kerrville to return to Oklahoma to be closer to family.

Don is preceded in death by his parents and parents in law, Ellis and Ina Wells, and grandson Matthew McCool.

He is survived by his wife, Joann, of 53 years. Sister Fae (Milton) Wells of Stillwater, daughters Lisa (Craig) Countryman of Bartlesville, Angela Whitfield of Ponca City. Grandsons Chris (Jada) McCool of Bartlesville, Kyle (Katie) McCool of Stillwater, Cody Whitfield of Ponca City. Great grandsons Cain, Aiden, Daxton, Bryson and Brooks. And his precious cats Foxy and Sassy.

Family wishes contributions to his memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

Source: Trout Funeral Home