Harold A. “Woody” Woodruff

 Arlington resident and former Washington State President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Harold “Woody” Woodruff, 58, died at home on Wednesday, July 21st as a result of exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

 A memorial service will be held at the VFW #2995 Hall in Redmond on Friday, July 30th at 10:00am. Internment will be at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale at 3:00pm following the memorial service.

 Woody was born August 31, 1945 in Bellingham to Albert E. and Helen Woodruff. After graduation from Bellingham High School in 1963, Woody began a lengthy overseas trip beginning in the British Isles and ending in Nurnberg, West Germany. He enlisted in the Navy Hospital Corps and was later assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. The second nickname of ‘Doc’ was applied by the men he served with in the field under primitive combat conditions. His tour of duty in Vietnam lasted one year, from Dec. 1967 through Dec. 1968.

 Upon returning home, Woody married Mary Ann Saiz in Grandview, Washington and later they had two sons, Gene and Greg.

 Woody continued in the medical profession working at St. Josephs Hospital in Bellingham for several years then United General Hospital in Sedro Woolley as their Purchasing Agent.

 He started a company that serviced Chiropractic and X-Ray equipment and in 1985 went to work as an X-Ray Service Manager for a duration of 10 years.

 Woody contributed a large amount of time to the Jaycees and was involved in the Boy Scouts for several years, including serving as Scoutmaster.

 Woody and his wife began working to bring attention to veteran’s issues and needs in the 1980’s, helping veterans to seek assistance and become involved in the healing process.

 He served for two terms as President of the Washington State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America from 1990 to 1994, and later as Regional Director of the Northwest states.

 In 1996, Woody went to work as a Veterans Service Officer for Snohomish County, helping veterans and their families through financial hardship and war-related difficulties.

 His survivors include his wife Mary Ann of Arlington, son Gene of Vancouver, WA, son Greg of Tucson, AZ, niece Melody Cohee-Plumb of Marysville, and one uncle, Harold Keller of Vernal, UT. He is also survived by five brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, his mother-in-law, and eleven other nieces and nephews. Woody was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Joan Cohee.

 Woody was a life member if Vietnam Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member of American Legion Post 76, VFW Post 1561, Marine Corps League and Sons of the American Revolution, Alexander Hamilton Chapter.

 Woody wished to thank the following:

• “The doctors and nurses that cared for me at Providence Everett Medical Center, the Puget Sound Kidney Center in Mountlake Terrace and the Puget Sound Kidney Center in Everett.
• A special thanks to Steve Akers, to my fellow Service Officer Tim Sewell for continuing to serve our Veterans through the Veteran Assistance Fund of Snohomish County, to the Human Services Staff of Snohomish County and all my family and friends for their support and prayers these past months.
• And to my family, to my friends and to my fellow Veteran brothers and sisters:
• ‘I finally made it home.’ “

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