John Woodman, who worked in plant operations for Prince George's County public schools, died of cancer May 27 at the Rolling Green Village retirement home in Greenville, S.C. The former Ellicott City resident was 79.
Born in New York, he was the son of Dr. De Graaf Woodman and Marjorie Morse. He attended high school at Tabor Academy, a preparatory school in Massachusetts, before enlisting in the Navy. He served for three years during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan.
He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in agriculture in 1961.
He lived in Maryland until 2004, working as a sales representative at John Deere, in Baltimore's sanitation department and for the Prince George's County schools. He also worked for the state in pesticide control. He retired in 1982.
Mr. Woodman was a member of the Mayflower Society, and he enjoyed reading, traveling and working outdoors, said his daughter, Meg Rhodes.
"He was a very generous person and would always provide help to neighbors," she said. "He would do yard work for them if they needed help."
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Rolling Green Village.
In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, the former Lynn Hawkins; a son, Joe Woodman; and two grandchildren.