MARTIN L. WOODS

Martin Woods

Martin L. Woods, 96, of Rushville died at 2:51 a.m. July 26, 2015, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.

He was born April 25, 1919, in Franklin, a son of William and Ida M. White Woods. He married Rethyle Lawson Baker in January 1978, in Beardstown. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Larry Woods of Quincy; one daughter, Brenda (and John) Kautzer of St. Charles, Mo.; one stepson, Roger (and Cheri) Baker of Rushville; one sister, Louise Farrell of Jacksonville; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one stepson, Terry Baker; two sisters, Annie Brent and Mary Phelps; and three brothers, Raymond Woods, James “Wheat” Woods and Bill Clark.

He started working for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad at age 16. He later volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was stationed in China, Burma and India. His company built the longest four-inch pipeline in the world. It was used to furnish airplane fuel for all air bases in those three countries. After the service he returned to the Burlington Northern Railroad where he retired on June 4, 1979.

He attended Rushville Free Methodist Church.

He was a member of the American Legion and a 56-year member of the Beardstown Elks.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville with Pastor Greg Fish officiating. Burial will follow in the Beardstown City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to his church or the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 7/29/2015