Obituaries

July 6th, 2023

Thomas Dorman Woods, Sr., Handyman extraordinaire. Tinkerer. Gardener. Attentive Babysitter. Avid pinochle player. Persistent jigsaw puzzle builder. Country music lover. Political Commentator. Loving Husband. Great Dad and Poppop par excellence. Passed away on July 4th, 2023.

Tom was born on August 16, 1929 the third eldest son during the Great Depression into the household of Ira And Bertie Woods of Hacker Valley, West Virginia. Growing up poor in the mountains meant everyone had to do their part in order to survive. As a teenager he worked splitting rails for local farmers for fences and upon turning 17 he moved to Ohio with his older brother. Not very long after he enlisted in the Army and was commissioned to Korea during the cold winter season. During his time there, he was involved in many skirmishes and battles and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class of his Infantry Division. His service garnered him medals and commendations from his superior officers. Upon his return to the United States in 1951, he and and an Army buddy found work as shipyard welders in Chester, PA. The job did not suit him so Tom began another career as a salesman for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. He met his wife Rita in !952, married her in 1953, and started a family in !954 and again another child in 1957 when he and Rita bought a brand new home in Linwood after living in an apartment in Chester for 4 years.

Tom remained employed with the A&P for almost 30 years in its various transformations in stores located throughout the region. He began a second career with Rite Aid for 10 years until his retirement at age 65. Both he and Rita retired to lower Delaware to the community of Long Neck Village where they met many new friends at the Korean War Veterans Association and in their community. Tom served on the board of the Homeowners Association for many years. During their retirement years they travelled extensively visiting Florida, Hawaii, California, Bermuda, and Italy.

Tom loved his animal friends and was somewhat of a cat whisperer. You could find him sitting on his front porch drinking coffee, with his Princess and Tigger nearby while watching all the birds in the porch birdhouses feeding their newborn hatchlings. All the neighbor dogs loved him and daily on their walks would come up on the porch and get a pat on the head. Tom was a very involved “Poppop” to his six grandchildren. He attended all 6 high school and 6 college graduations and supported many of their extracurricular activities and sports endeavors. He danced “til he dropped” at their weddings and celebrated to the max with great pride. He was doubly blessed generationally with 7 great grandchildren who were and are still a source of more joy and a thousand more memories.

Tom is survived by his son, Thomas D. Woods, Jr. and wife, Joanne; his daughter Anita M. Snyder and her husband Harry. Also his six grandchildren, Jennifer Walter, Kristin Kott, Kellianne Woods, Caitlin Fick, David Snyder, And Zachary Woods; his seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews scattered throughout the country.

Visitation will be held on Saturday July 8, 2023 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at St. John Fisher Catholic Church on Chichester Avenue in Upper Chichester, PA. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the Visitation hour. Tom will be laid to rest at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery in Millsboro, DE on Tuesday July 11 at 1 pm. The family would appreciate donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to combat this awful disease that diminishes a person’s life unfairly. Also, donations in Tom’s memory can be made to the SPCA of your choice.