Obituary for James Earle "Butch" Woodward
James Earle (Butch) Woodward
February 14, 1938 – July 16, 2022
Long time Highlands Plateau resident Butch Woodward died after suffering cardiac arrest at his home on July 16, 2022. He is survived by Brenda Sherlock Woodward, his wife of 64 years, sons Rob Woodward and Russell Woodward, daughters-in-law Mary Woodward and Danae Woodward, 3 grandsons: Taylor, James, and Nathaniel, 2 granddaughters: Emma and Athena, and Emma’s husband, son-in-law Todd Ryan. Butch’s family loved and admired him and will miss him terribly.
Raised in the textile village of Graniteville, South Carolina, Butch worked in the local mills for 3 summers to help with his tuition to Presbyterian College (PC). He married his wife, Brenda Sherlock Woodward, on June 8, 1958, between his sophomore and junior years at PC. After their marriage, Brenda worked so Butch could continue at PC. After graduating from PC in 1960, Butch taught high school history for one year.
Butch joined the sales force of General Mills in 1961 and rapidly advanced with the company; he moved his family 4 times in 8 years. In 1971, while living in Dallas, Texas, Butch joined Merrill Lynch as a stock broker trainee. During the next 25 years, Butch and Brenda were once again on the move, from the east coast to the west coast and back again. Butch managed Merrill offices in Charleston, SC, Scottsdale, AZ, San Diego, CA, Bucks County, PA, and Baltimore, MD.
At age 58, Butch and Brenda retired and traveled extensively, continuing a journey that began with a cruise on their 20th wedding anniversary. Together, they visited almost every state in the union and many other countries. For Butch, retirement was not the end of his work life. He spent the past 23 years completing wood-working projects and taking mission/construction trips with his church. Butch volunteered on 22 construction projects with his church and Habitat for Humanity in SC, NC, GA, MS., WVA, Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Butch’s love of wood-working was fostered by a grandfather and father who both loved to build things and was furthered by his experience working for a cabinetmaker as a senior at PC. He made and donated many items for fundraisers for his church and other local charities. Butch also developed a loyal customer base in the local consignment shops in Cashiers and he was often commissioned to build specific pieces. In addition to working, traveling, and volunteering, Butch often took his sons and grandsons (and occasionally Brenda) on salmon fishing trips to Alaska and British Columbia.
Butch was active in local churches and he loved his mountain home in the Lake Osseroga development. For years, his voice mail message stated that you had reached “Butch and Brenda Woodward in beautiful Lake Osseroga!”
Throughout his life, Butch lived by the motto of his beloved Presbyterian College: “Dum Vivimus Servimus – While We Live, We Serve.” He loved God, his family, fishing, traveling, Presbyterian College, fancy cars and trucks, country music, grilled steak, and bourbon and water!
We invite you to celebrate Butch’s life at a memorial service for him to be held on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 2:00pm in the main sanctuary of Highlands United Methodist Church, 315 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: The J.E. & B.S. Woodward Scholarship Fund, Presbyterian College, P.O. Box 475, Clinton, SC 29325.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
February 14, 1938 – July 16, 2022
Long time Highlands Plateau resident Butch Woodward died after suffering cardiac arrest at his home on July 16, 2022. He is survived by Brenda Sherlock Woodward, his wife of 64 years, sons Rob Woodward and Russell Woodward, daughters-in-law Mary Woodward and Danae Woodward, 3 grandsons: Taylor, James, and Nathaniel, 2 granddaughters: Emma and Athena, and Emma’s husband, son-in-law Todd Ryan. Butch’s family loved and admired him and will miss him terribly.
Raised in the textile village of Graniteville, South Carolina, Butch worked in the local mills for 3 summers to help with his tuition to Presbyterian College (PC). He married his wife, Brenda Sherlock Woodward, on June 8, 1958, between his sophomore and junior years at PC. After their marriage, Brenda worked so Butch could continue at PC. After graduating from PC in 1960, Butch taught high school history for one year.
Butch joined the sales force of General Mills in 1961 and rapidly advanced with the company; he moved his family 4 times in 8 years. In 1971, while living in Dallas, Texas, Butch joined Merrill Lynch as a stock broker trainee. During the next 25 years, Butch and Brenda were once again on the move, from the east coast to the west coast and back again. Butch managed Merrill offices in Charleston, SC, Scottsdale, AZ, San Diego, CA, Bucks County, PA, and Baltimore, MD.
At age 58, Butch and Brenda retired and traveled extensively, continuing a journey that began with a cruise on their 20th wedding anniversary. Together, they visited almost every state in the union and many other countries. For Butch, retirement was not the end of his work life. He spent the past 23 years completing wood-working projects and taking mission/construction trips with his church. Butch volunteered on 22 construction projects with his church and Habitat for Humanity in SC, NC, GA, MS., WVA, Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Butch’s love of wood-working was fostered by a grandfather and father who both loved to build things and was furthered by his experience working for a cabinetmaker as a senior at PC. He made and donated many items for fundraisers for his church and other local charities. Butch also developed a loyal customer base in the local consignment shops in Cashiers and he was often commissioned to build specific pieces. In addition to working, traveling, and volunteering, Butch often took his sons and grandsons (and occasionally Brenda) on salmon fishing trips to Alaska and British Columbia.
Butch was active in local churches and he loved his mountain home in the Lake Osseroga development. For years, his voice mail message stated that you had reached “Butch and Brenda Woodward in beautiful Lake Osseroga!”
Throughout his life, Butch lived by the motto of his beloved Presbyterian College: “Dum Vivimus Servimus – While We Live, We Serve.” He loved God, his family, fishing, traveling, Presbyterian College, fancy cars and trucks, country music, grilled steak, and bourbon and water!
We invite you to celebrate Butch’s life at a memorial service for him to be held on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 2:00pm in the main sanctuary of Highlands United Methodist Church, 315 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: The J.E. & B.S. Woodward Scholarship Fund, Presbyterian College, P.O. Box 475, Clinton, SC 29325.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.