John E. Woosley

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father, John E. Woosley on February 4, 2003 after a brief illness. John passed away comfortably with his wife of 58 years by his side. Born in Indiana on October 17, 1938 to Lester J. and Gladys Edmundson Woosley, John moved with his family to Fairhope, Alabama as a young child. He really enjoyed talking about his happy adventures growing up on the bay.

John graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and began his career in Civil Service for the Air Force, which brought him to Kelly AFB in San Antonio. He was a specialist in aerospace ground equipment and went from Kelly to NASA for the development of the space suit for the Gemini-4 Program. While in Houston he met and married Bristol Thomas, the sister-in-law of his good friend. After the birth of their son, John Christopher, the family moved to Wichita, Kansa for work with Boeing. Their stay in Kansas was a very happy time and they maintained lasting friendships after returning to Kelly AFB, where he continued his work revising engine test stands.

John’s longstanding dream was to have his own business and soon established Woosley Engineering. He worked there for many years with lots of fine employees before closing the company and retiring. Chris considers working with his dad his best education.

John really enjoyed coaching Chris’s school sports teams with other fathers and friends, trips to the coast of Mexico, camping, sailing, crabbing, fishing, hunting, going to the rodeo, and dancing with his wife. In retirement John enjoyed volunteering at the library, running the grist mill at Mission San Jose, being a step-on guide with the Parks Dept/Amtrack Rails and Trails program, working at NIOSA and being a Honey-doer at the Assistance League of San Antonio.

John was a wonderful, loving husband and father who was smart, modest, kind, honorable, sweet and always cheerful. He enjoyed meeting with friends often for good food and fin and the opportunity to tell his “corny jokes” that we all will miss.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Gladys Woosley; his sister and brother-in-law, Ann W. and Harry Alford.

He is survived by his wife, Bristol; son, Chris; granddaughters, Adeline and Celia Woosley; niece, Marianne (Paul) Osentosky; nephew, Ryburn Alford; a sister-in-law, Lonieta T. Poradek; nephews, Perry (Melissa) Poradek, Jerome Poradek and Patrick Poradek.

Always a faithful Christian, John grew up in the Methodist Church and later joined the Episcopal Church.

The Memorial Service will be 2pm, Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. The urn burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park with Rev. Jim Hoog officiating.