John F. Woodward, 81, of Bear Rocks, passed away Monday, April 11, 2022, at Loyalhanna Care Center, Latrobe. Born Feb 2, 1941, in Masontown, he was a son of the late Donald R. Woodward and Marie E. (Tinti) Woodward. John was a 1959 graduate of Albert Gallatin High School and was a veteran of the Air Force. Prior to his retirement, he was employed with Steamfitters Local 449 and had worked over 20 years for A.R. Scalise in Duquesne. He excelled in carpentry and woodworking, which developed from a hobby to a retirement job with “Woody’s Handyman Service.” For many years, he coached NCAA softball in PAL leagues in North Huntingdon, where he and his teams won many tournaments. John was a people person who could easily talk to anyone and become a friend for life. A history buff, he also had a love for eagles and was an avid sports fan, especially of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Penguins. In his retirement years, he enjoyed living in the Bear Rocks community. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Donna F. (Hook) Woodward; a son, Johnny Woodward; a stepdaughter, Vikki Tomich; his first wife, Barbara (Holonich) Woodward; and a special uncle, Max V. Tinti. John is survived by his five children, Kimberly Fox and her husband Loren, of Yukon, Wendy Woodward and her wife, Dreama Wickline-Woodward, of Frostburg, Md., Marsha Whipkey and her husband, Jesse, of Bolivar, Christine Stevens and Bob Stevens, of Adamsburg, and Craig Woodward and his wife, Tami, of California, Pa.; his stepchildren, David Tomich and his fiance, Delores Finch, of Mt. Airy, Md., and Cindy Stickle and her husband, Joe, of Latrobe; two brothers, Donald Woodward and his wife Diane, of New Salem and Max Woodward, of Washington, D.C,; 13 grandchildren, Ashley L. Love, who was raised by Donna and John, and her husband, Brian, Joshua Fox and his wife, Kaylan, Kara Fox, Christopher Fox, Jonathin Woodward, Anthony Woodward, Braylee Stevens, Joe Stickle and his wife, Samantha, Kelly Bolish, Jonathan Stickle and his wife, Kelsey, Krystina Lemieux and her husband, Nicholas, Christopher “C.J.” Tomich and Brett Tomich; and 19 great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Loyalhanna Care Center and Excela Health Home Care and Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the LOPATICH-BRINKER FUNERAL HOME LLC, 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. Military services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home by the Latrobe-Derry Veterans Honor Guard. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Interment will follow at Unity Cemetery. To sign the online guest book, send condolences, or share a story, please visit www.lopatichbrinker.com.
Published by Tribune Review from Apr. 13 to Apr. 14, 2022.
