Raymond P. Woods

OTTAWA-Raymond "Ray" P. Woods, 98, of Ottawa, Ohio died June 26, 2021 at The Meadows of Leipsic.  He was born February 11, 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Esther and Stephen Woods, Jr., who both died while Ray was a young child.  Ray was raised by his grandmother and Mary "Mae" and George Anderson, his aunt and uncle.  In 1943 Ray married the love of his life, Eleanor "Ellen"(Campbell) Woods, also of Bridgeport, whom he met while in high school.  They were married for 68 years until her death on September 9, 2011.

After graduating from Tri-State College in Indiana, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  He was chosen to be trained in top-secret radar technology.  Assigned to the destroyer USS O'Brien during World War II, he survived the O'Brien's participation in six major invasions, including D-Day at Omaha Beach and Cherbourg.  Following the European tour of duty, the O'Brien was ordered to the Pacific, seeing action at Ormoc Bay, Mindoro and Iwo Jima.  Ray was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries in the radar room fire after a Japanese plane dove into the destroyer.  He received many other military awards for his service. In 2014 France presented Ray the Legion of Honor at D-Day Conneaut.

After the war Ray enjoyed a distinguished career as an auditor and finance executive.  Prior to retirement, he was the Chief Financial Officer of St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, Ohio.  While at St. Rita's he obtained a master's degree in hospital administration from the University of Notre Dame. Ray was an avid sports enthusiast who announced basketball games while in high school, coached many baseball teams when his sons were young and played golf into his eighties. Ray has authored a book about his experiences aboard the O'Brien entitled "D-Day Hero Destroyer". He has written two autobiographies, including one with Ellen entitled "May I Have This Dance for the Rest of Our Lives".  He wrote articles and gave numerous presentations and interviews about his experiences in World War II.

Ray is survived by sons Gary (Susan) Woods of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Douglas (Linda) Woods, of Jenison, Michigan and Keith (Sally) Woods of Centennial, Colorado and daughter-in-law Kathy Woods of Lima, Ohio. He is survived by six grandchildren, two step grandchildren and their families:  Anthony Woods, Megan Schneider, Heather Meyers, Matthew Woods, Andrew Woods, Gregory Woods, John Vlk and Emily Warter. He has 15 great-grandchildren and 3 step great-grandchildren.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ellen, sons Craig Woods and Kevin Woods, and great-grandson Keihland Haft.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ottawa, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m.  Father Scott Kramer will officiate.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery with military rites by Ottawa VFW, Ottawa American Legion and AMVETS.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com

Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church: Parish Center Fund
Ottawa OH 45875