John Barnett Woodruff Sr.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 21, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church of Columbus at 2:00 PM with Reverend Charles R. Hasty, Jr. officiating according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road Chapel. The family will have a private interment following the service.

John Barnett Woodruff, the youngest child of James Waldo and Ethel Illges Woodruff, was born October 18, 1923 in Columbus. He attended local schools, Riverside Military Academy, and Culver Military Academy where he was a member of the Artillery and a Golden Gloves Boxer. After high school, he entered Auburn University. In 1943 he joined the US Navy as an officer candidate at Georgia Tech and Emory. The next year he graduated from Midshipman's School at Columbia University and was commissioned an Ensign. It was also in 1944 that he married his childhood sweetheart, Frances Ann Stephenson. He spent his service during World War II in the South Pacific and was recalled to active duty in 1952 where he served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Mr. Woodruff was involved in family businesses at a very young age, first assisting with the 4 AM milk deliveries for his father's Rosemont Dairies to eventually working with radio and TV station affiliates, timberlands, and residential and commercial real estate development. His innate business acumen and his conservative style coupled with his progressive vision earned him many board positions on a wide variety of businesses which included Lummus Industries, First National Bank-First Union, Columbus Broadcasting Company, Goldens Foundry, and Woodcrest Enterprises.

As a community advocate in Columbus, Mr. Woodruff‘s involvement and interest in the area's youth are legendary… he realized early on ‘that given a chance, all young people can rise to their own greatness.' This was evidenced through his coaching of his sons' Pee Wee football (later to become the Pop Warner League), and the constant and generous support of the Metropolitan Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., and Brookstone School. He was named Man of the Year by the Jaycees for his work establishing the South Columbus Boys Club which was recently named for him. He received the Bronze Keystone award from the National Boys and Girls Club of America and had served on its National Board. He was also awarded the Guardian Angel from Girls Inc. for his support and assistance. He has served as a member of the St. Francis Hospital and Foundation boards, as a Trustee of Presbyterian College, as a member of the Rotary Club, as a Phi Delta Theta Trustee at Auburn University, and was Chairman of the J W and Ethel I Woodruff Foundation.

Mr. Woodruff lived by the motto of God and Country by asking ‘how can I serve'? As a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, he gave his time unselfishly as he taught Sunday School, and was a Deacon and Elder for several terms. His service in the U.S. Military during WWII and the Korean War, as well as his community-service achievements and support of soldiers was recognized with the Cliff Livingston Citizen Soldier of the Year Award in 2004. Mr. Woodruff's interest in history moved him to be a persistent force in the preservation and restoration of unique, historical buildings and sites. In 1992, he was awarded the Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award by the Historic Columbus Foundation and in 2005, he was honored by Admiral Club of the Port Columbus Naval Museum for his support and dedication to making that unique part of history available to the public.

He was a friend to all, a devoted family man - and consistently placed his family at the top of his list. He was a good father and a good son; a loving husband; a kind and understanding brother; and a supportive uncle and grandfather. He was the "Papa" who attended endless soccer, softball, and basketball games, stage productions, and graduations, and he never missed an opportunity to share his love of history and nature with his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Stephenson Woodruff, a son, Stephen Barnett Woodruff, a grandson, John (Jay) Barnett Woodruff III, a brother, James Waldo Woodruff, Jr., two sisters, Emily Woodruff and Ethel Woodruff Draper.

He is survived by a daughter, Katherine Woodruff Williams, two sons, John (Bart) Barnett Woodruff, Jr, and Chester Alexander Woodruff, nine grandchildren: Stacey Woodruff Beardsley, Christopher Woodruff, Michael Woodruff, Bright Woodruff Owens, Jill Woodruff King, Lawren Williams, Barnett Williams, Perrin Williams, Alexandra Woodruff, and 6 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church of Columbus or to a charity of their choice.