Willard E. Woodward Obituary (1939 - 2022)

Willard E. "Woody" Woodward, 82, of Bloomington, IL, formerly of Champaign, IL, passed away at 2:20 pm on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Heritage Health in Bloomington. Services will be limited to a private family gathering. Cremation rites have been accorded by Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington, IL In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Illinois State Univ. Excellence Fund. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com. Woody was born June 9, 1939 in Taylorville, IL son of Delmar Willard and Elizabeth J. Ferguson Woodward. He married Eleanor C. Riley on August 28, 1960 in Shelbyville, IL. As the many that know Woody can attest, he had a life-long passion for jazz music and was focused and disciplined in many areas throughout his life. He began playing piano and organ to audiences at the age of 16, he played at county and state fairs, large outdoor venues, dinner parties, etc. As the years grew, he led many jazz groups of his own all across Central Illinois and was a member of the Medicare 7,8 or, 9 Dixieland Jazz band and Boneyard Jazz Group. Over the years, Woody played with many accomplished musicians, all of whom he had much admiration and respect for. In addition to his great passion for music, Woody was a graduate of University of Illinois, where he received his Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate Degrees. He taught Anatomy and Physiology at Parkland College in Champaign for 30 years before retiring in 2004. He was also an editior and published author. Surviving is his wife, Eleanor, of Bloomington; three children, Mary (Russ) Niles of Winfield, Brad Woodward of Olive Branch, MS and Jennifer (Brett) Weber of Bloomington; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and one brother, Robert (Linda) Woodward of Taylorville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard Woodward and Elizabeth Ware and one sister, Judith Hill.