Thomas Woodard

Tom attended Parmer School, Jere Baxter, East Middle, East High School and graduated from Isaac Litton High School. He graduated the University of Tennessee in 1952. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army as a Radar and Guided Missiles Technician. Tom Apprenticed under the late architect H. Clinton Parrent, Jr. and obtained his license in 1961. After 4 years at John A. Preston & Associates, he joined Barge Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon and founded their architectural department. He served on the Board of Directors and retired as Senior Vice President from Barge Waggoner in 1994 at the mandatory age of 65. He retired from D. F. Chase Inc. at the age of 70 and from Hawkins Development Company at age 75 in 2004.

Tom’s architectural projects were creative and diverse. Among his favorites were the restoration of the Memorial Chapel and Academic Building at Fisk University, the Moore County Court House in Lynchburg, TN, and American Temperance University Building in Harriman, TN, the design of the Fitness Center at Tennessee Tech University, the Storage and Operations Building at Jack Daniel Distillery, the Toyota Child Development Center, Georgetown, KY, McKendree Christian Life Center, Nashville, and phase one of Franklin Road Academy High School.

Tom served as President of Middle Tennessee Chapter of American Institute of Architects in 1980. He served as Chairman of the Tennessee State Historic Review Board for 18 years until 2005. Tom was an active member of the Exchange Club of Nashville (now named the Economic Club of Nashville), serving as President from 1990-1991. He was an active member of Woodmont Christian Church for 40 years, serving as Deacon, Chairman of the Congregation, Chairman of the Board of Elders, choir member and Sunday School teacher. He was a long time member of the Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study Class. Tom Served on the Board of Directors of Franklin Road Academy and for 20 years was the voice of FRA Football Rebels.

Tom was a gentleman and a gentle man. He was very bright, remarkably creative, and extremely good natured. He loved to tell stories, paint pictures, write poems, especially ones in rhyme for little children. He enjoyed conversing with people from all walks of life. He loved many kinds of music and enjoyed singing and harmonizing with friends. Daily he worked the crossword puzzles, cryptoqoutes, scrambletts and sudoku. Tom enjoyed traveling at home and abroad, playing bridge, conversing with friends and sipping Jack Daniels. Tom loved life, valuing every moment of it and living his to the fullest.

He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Woodard and Marion Murphy Woodard Fort, his sister Betty Woodard Adams, and his first wife Ann Hawkins Woodard and their infant son Charles Hawkins Woodard.

Tom is survived by his wife of 15 years, Caroline Hilton Woodard, three sons, Thomas (Veronica) Woodard, Jr., John Bradford (Erika) Woodard, and James Matthews (Rebekah)Woodard all of Nashville; two step children, Braxton (Mary) Perkins of La Canada Flintridge, Ca, and Julia Hilton Calkins of Memphis. Survivors include eight grandchildren, Katherine Woodard (Bo) Rainey, Mary Alexandra Woodard, Thomas Woodard IV, Jessica Woodard (Wes) Calhoun, Blake Thomas Woodard, Isabella Noelle Woodard, Dudley Charles Woodard and Byrd Matthews Woodard and six step grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be on Monday, July 1, from 4p-6p at St. George’s Episcopal Church where Tom worshipped in recent years. The funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road. Burial to follow at the Historic Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Honorary Pallbearers are Thomas G. Andrews, Harold J. Castner, James M. Denton, Charles Fentress, A. Wylie McDougall, James R. Stadler, Dr. Paul R. Stumb and Dr. John S. Warner.

Donations may be made to the Charity Endowment Fund of Economic Club of Nashville (formerly the Exchange Club), 1105 Gartland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206, and St. George’s Episcopal Church, the Salvation Army, 631 Dickerson Road, Nashville, TN 37207 or charity of choice.