Woodward

Lt. Col. Dean Ralph Woodward (US Army Ret) died at home after a short illness on Feb 6. Born in Ingalls, Ark. in November 1924, “Woody” was the youngest child of Rufus and Cora (Clements) Woodward. Dean spent his youth working with his family on a pioneering tomato farm. He was a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific Theater. During the Korean War, Dean served as a U.S. Army Officer whose duties also included an assignment at the White House. He had the honor to travel as Communications Officer with President Harry Truman on his “Whistle Stop Tour.” Dean later earned an Electrical Engineering Degree from Texas A&M University and worked in advanced technical communications at many Army posts both in the United States and Europe. He was honored for his distinguished service with the Army Commendation Medal. Following his military retirement, Dean worked in computer applications and communications in private industry in Pennsylvania, Texas, and in oil fields of the Middle East. After retirement, Dean applied his energy and passion to providing clean water for children. With a Rotary Foundation Grant, he designed and initiated a water filtration system in Honduras. In 2014, Dean had the honor to return with five fellow Marines to their 1943 Pacific Battle site at Tarawa. He established Clean Water for the Pacific to provide lifesaving water filters to the Tarawa Island descendants.

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