Roy Brown Woodward

Dr. Roy Brown Woodward, of Owensboro, passed away on September 30, 2016, after a long illness. Dr. Woodward was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on October 16, 1942, to LeRoy Woodward and Mary Sue Brown. He graduated from Owensboro High School and Murray State University, before receiving his Doctorate in Education from Mississippi State University.

For over 42 years, Dr. Woodward worked in public education, and in 2004, he was selected as the Kentucky Administrator of the Year. He had served as Superintendent of the Harrison County School System for 16 years at the time of his retirement. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Superintendent in Corbin, Kentucky, and a principal at Caldwell County High School and at Madison High School in Richmond. In the Owensboro school system, he worked as a teacher and a guidance counselor.

Dr. Woodward was also active in community affairs, serving twice as President of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Rotary Club, and President of the Optimist Club in Richmond. In his retirement, he was heavily involved in the Rotary Club of Owensboro and was recently named a Paul Harris Fellow.

Known by his friends and grandkids as "Woody," he truly lived a blessed life and left a legacy of service. Dr. Woodward believed that, with positive support and encouragement, everyone can be a leader, and he is remembered for the love and kindness he showed to so many people during his journey in this life.

He is preceded in death by his nephews, Luke and Byron; brother, Wayne; and his parents.

Survivors include his son, Russ Woodward, and daughter-in-law, Mackenzie Hindman Woodward, of Louisville; daughter, Karen Woodward Ide, and son-in-law, Brian Ide, of Los Angeles, California; brother, Norman Woodward, and sister-in-law, Pam Woodward, of Owensboro; brother, Terry Woodward, of Owensboro; sister-in-law, Mildred Giles, of Owensboro; nieces and nephew Jeanette, Angie, Ashley, Tara and Seth; beloved grandchildren, Ethan, Lauren, Harper and Colton; and the thousands of students he cared for along the way.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, to please consider making a contribution in Dr. Woodward's honor to the Luke Woodward Endowment for Youth Mission, First Christian Church, P.O. Box 966, Owensboro, KY 42302.

Services will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 2:00pm at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory in Owensboro. Visitation will take place from 4pm to 8pm on Monday at the funeral home.