Andrew Montroville Woodard Jr.

Monte Woodard, 88, of Beaumont, passed away on Monday, August 10, 2009 at his home. His memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 23, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Beaumont.

Monte Woodard was born 1921 in Paulsboro, New Jersey where he lived for 50 years before moving to California, Illinois and Texas. He entered the Army in 1942, serving in the Field Artillery and was awarded the European Theater Operations combat ribbon with four battle stars. He is a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and a member of that veteran's organization. In 1946 he married Florence and their union was blessed with two children, Charles and Gloria. Monte attended Temple University and was a graduate of Drexel University in chemical engineering. His entire work career was spent as an engineer for Mobil Oil Corporation. He was an active participant in many community organizations including the Boy Scouts, YMCA, Mental Health Organization, American Cancer Society, and the Beaumont Founder's Lions Club. He held numerous positions in his church and taught Sunday School for many years. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Monte wrote the preceding obituary for himself before his first bout with cancer back in 2002. It is short and to the point as he often was. He was a self-proclaimed "fitness freak" that spent his life supporting his family, country, and the communities he lived in. His personal time was spent keeping fit, reading, taking pictures, and being involved in civic organizations. After retiring, be became a dedicated "journalist", ending his days by recording the events of the day in his journal.

Monte is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Florence; his daughter, Gloria Hoagland and her husband, Clay; his son, Charles Woodard; his grandchildren, Jessica Uding and her husband, Jarrit, Matthew Woodard and his wife, Sheila and his great-granddaughter, Abigail Woodard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10022.

His family would like to thank all his friends for the prayers, love and support they gave him during his illness.