John Pershing Woods, a retired tobacco company foreman, died of complications from a stroke Oct. 15 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. He was 83.

Mr. Woods, a Cockeysville resident since 1980, was born and raised in Durham, N.C. After graduating from high school in 1937, he began working for American Tobacco Co. in Durham.

During World War II, he served in Europe as an infantryman in Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army. He was discharged with the rank of private in 1945 after he was severely wounded in combat.

Mr. Woods returned to American Tobacco Co., where he was a foreman until retiring in 1979.

He was an active member of Perry Hall Baptist Church, where services were held Friday.

Mr. Woods is survived by his wife of 63 years, the former Aldine McIntyre; a son, Randy Woods of Carney; a daughter, Marian Dittmar of Monkton; a brother, Robert Woods of Durham; three sisters, Mary Poole of Durham, Mabel Jones of Sanford, N.C., and Mozelle Reeves of Greensboro, N.C.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson.