Larry W. Woods
Ordinary Guy
Larry W. Woods died on September 9, 2044 at the age of 100, surrounded by his wife and friend of 77 years, Carol, and his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren at his home in Lancaster, PA. He died shortly after watching the “Today” show and seeing his photo on a jar of Smucker's Jam. This was the one item on his “Bucket List” he feared he would never achieve. He had a grin on his face as he fell asleep for the last time.
Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Paul H. and Dorothea E. Woods. He is survived by his wife Carol; two sons Derek C., husband of Barbara, Paul T.; daughter Brynn A., wife of David Mencarini; grandchildren Courtney A. Mencarini, Camille G. Mencarini, and Caden C. Woods; 11 great grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; brother Stephen P., husband of Kathy. Special mention is made of long time friends Magali and Stephane who have cared for the Woods' St. Martin Villa for years.
He graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1962 and Millersville State Teachers College in 1967. He was employed by the Manheim Township School District as an Industrial Arts Teacher for 33 years and was honored in 1990 as one of the Best Teachers in Pennsylvania in a Salute to Teaching. His 1972 Rifle Team won the PIAA State Championship and is still the only team to win a state championship in the history of the school district. He did this even though he had only shot a rifle two times in his life. He also was adviser to the yearbook for 30 of his 33 years at the high school. In 1999, after retiring from teaching, he continued with the district as middle school yearbook adviser and in-house printer. Also worked until his death at Grebinger Gallery for one of his former students. He was the owner of Woods Printing Services. He finally retired in 2035 with 80 years of service to the school district as either a student or employee. He was honored with a plaque above his old classroom naming it as "LDub's Room 108."
He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster where he was a member of both the boys’ choir and the adult choir. Played the King that presented the baby Jesus with myrrh at the Christmas Pageant. He served on the Vestry and he and his wife were co-chairs of the annual Town Fair Prime Rib Dinner for 5 years. He was involved with the Manheim Township Baseball Association for 13 years and his 1991 Midget Team won the New Era Tournament Title. He won the World Series in the Red Rose APBA League in 1978. In 1997 he captured 1st Place in the 8th Annual Faulkner Corvette Day with his 1987 red Vette "Big Red". In 2009 he won 1st place in the SXM Web Forum photo contest. For years he sold stained glass original panels and artistic Polaroid Manipulation Prints at galleries in PA, MD and NJ. From 2009-2044 he authored a daily blog based on his life’s experiences titled “Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary Guy.” Yesterday was his last story which numbered 22,877. In 2035 it was published in book form and was on the NY Times Best Seller List for 18 straight months. It can still be found at many local book stores. He held memberships in PSEA, NEA, MTEA, Giant Bonus Card Club, AAA, AARP, HOP, Borders Reward Program, The Lancaster County Corvette Club, and the American Writers Guild. On December 15th, 2010 he was ordained a minister in the Universal Life Church.
He was widely known for having two different colored eyes, winning a contest for having the loudest sneeze, being a world traveler, mowing his grass with his 75 year old Lawn Boy, enjoying his favorite meal of creamed peas and eggs on toast, speaking the first word that came to him even if it made no sense, getting all-over tans on his favorite St. Martin beach, wearing the same red shirt pictured on his obituary for over 40 years, driving like a maniac and being an ordinary guy.
He was widely known for having two different colored eyes, winning a contest for having the loudest sneeze, being a world traveler, mowing his grass with his 75 year old Lawn Boy, enjoying his favorite meal of creamed peas and eggs on toast, speaking the first word that came to him even if it made no sense, getting all-over tans on his favorite St. Martin beach, wearing the same red shirt pictured on his obituary for over 40 years, driving like a maniac and being an ordinary guy.
A funeral service for Larry will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on September 12, 2044 at 11:00 AM. Family will receive visitors from 9:00 until 11:00 AM. Private Interment will take place in the St. James Graveyard immediately after the service with punch and cookies served in the Parish House. There will be milk for those that choose to dunk in his memory. Funeral Arrangements and Cremation will be handled by The Groffs Funeral Services. Some ashes will be saved for his lovely wife to scatter on the beach at Club Orient in St. Martin. In lieu of flowers, which will be dead in a week anyway, donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Society. You may send condolences to the family by using mental telepathy with your wireless head set or send vision readings with your 3D computer scanning device. It was the final extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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