Walter Rhett Woody, Jr., 81, of Huntsville, passed away Monday. He was preceded in death by Lenda Lee Vann Woody, his wife of 56 years and the love of his life. Born in 1940 in New Hope, his family moved to Huntsville during his early childhood, and he was a lifelong resident of Huntsville thereafter. His parents, Walter Rhett Woody, Sr., and Opal Inez Durham, and sister, Jane Ann, preceded him in death. Family was a driving force in his life, and he was a loving and devoted father and grandfather. He leaves behind three children, Kathy Woody, Jenny Ragland (Tom), and Rhett Woody III (Beth); and four granddaughters, Caroline Woody, Marley Holcomb (Matt), Madeline Woody, and Mae Ellen Woody. He’s also survived by his loving sisters, Laureen Nelson (Dan) and Millie Sue Wilson, dear in-laws, Glenda and Joe Ed Bragg and Margaret Vann; and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.
Rhett graduated from Huntsville High School in 1958, with the school’s “Golden Class.” He remained close to those classmates, attending their 60th Reunion in 2018. At the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1962, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduation, he worked in the retail industry in Birmingham before returning to Huntsville to join his father’s furniture business. In 1967, he joined New York Life as a sales agent. He built a 50-plus year legacy as a successful and innovative agent, qualifying in top production tiers with a number of companies, and establishing long-term relationships with many special individual and business clients.
Many men of his childrens’ generation remember him as Coach Woody, from his years coaching YMCA football, or as a Sunday School teacher and Youth Group leader. There’s quite a large group of people who can say that Mr. Woody taught them how to waterski.
He had many other interests and talents, including golf, many sports, singing and dancing. He danced a mean jitterbug, and some Huntsville natives will remember him, as a boy, serenading at “The Kiddy Club” on Saturday mornings. Others were there to witness one or more of his five holes-in-one, and a few can attest to his barefoot waterskiing or that truly rare achievement: a game-winning grand slam.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Big Oak Ranch or a favorite charity.
