Obituary of Calvin Page Woodford

Calvin Page Woodford, of Moneta was called Home to be with his beloved Lord on October 18, 2018. Calvin is survived by his wife of 69 years, Macklyn; his daughters, Patricia Hallihan (Jim) and Kathie Watson; and sons, Jimmy (Vickie), Stuart (Teresa), Mark (Jen).  He will also be missed by his eleven grandchildren, Jennifer (Mark), Kelly (Ryan), Danny (Lauren), Jeffrey (Sharon), Matthew (Joanna), Clifford, Rebecca, Laura Beth (David), Ben (Kristina), Hana, and Hyatt, and 11 great-grandchildren, Rosie, Jack, Lily, Josie, Ellie, Bryce, Ashlyn, Abigail, Emily, Isabel, and Kaleis. He is predeceased by his son-in-law, Willie.

Calvin was born to S.W. and Lula Mae Woodford in September 1924 in Moneta, VA. As a child, he worked for his father in the poultry operation. After high school he served at apprentice school in Newport News until enlisting in the Navy. He served on the flagship USS Rocky Mount in the Pacific during WWII. After the war, Calvin returned home to attend college at Virginia Tech. There he met his bride, Macklyn, and they were married in 1949. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Poultry Science. Macklyn and Calvin had five children.

Calvin is a lifelong member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, where he has served in many capacities including Sunday School Superintendent, member and chairman of the Board of Trustees, member and chairman of the administrative board, member and president of the Men’s Club, Lay Leader and member of the choir. Calvin was well known around Bethlehem as a person willing to do just about any job that needed to be done.

A Charter Member of the Moneta Ruritan Club, Calvin served as president in their third year in 1957 and in 1960 served as Ruritan National Lieutenant Governor, Peaks of Otter District.   In 1955, the Moneta Ruritans helped establish the Moneta Fire Department and he served as fire chief one term. Calvin has been a member of the Bedford Lodge No. 244 in Moneta for 59 years and served as the treasurer.  He led the effort in establishing the Moneta Medical Center, serving as president of the board, and bringing doctors to Moneta after Dr. Sam Rucker retired. He was also instrumental in setting up the Moneta Pharmacy. In addition, Calvin served on the Bedford Hospital Board of Directors from 1970 to 1976 and 1982 to 1984. He also served on the Bedford Medical Foundation Board for seven years.   Calvin offered his services to Bedford County on several occasions, serving on the Bedford County Planning Committee, the Bedford Redistricting Committee and the Bedford Farm-Home Loan Committee at various times. He also served on the board which appointed School Board members before they changed to having members elected.  He served on the Route 122 and 655 Corridor Overlay Zoning District Committee and the SML Family Development Foundation as treasurer.

Through all these years of volunteer service and raising a family, Calvin still had time to operate Woodford Poultry Farm and later establish Moneta Farm Service, which he owned and operated for many years. People in the community often turned to Calvin for guidance and leadership, and he always remained a humble servant to his community and his family.

Those wishing to give memorials in lieu of flowers are asked to consider donations in his memory be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation c/o Moneta Farm & Home Center, 11739 Moneta Rd, Moneta VA 24121, or to the Moneta Ruritan Scholarship Fund c/o Holly Smith, 4139 Stony Fork Rd, Moneta Rd, Moneta VA.

2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00pm on Sunday October 21, 2018 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. Funeral, graveside services and reception will begin at 2:00pm Monday October 22, 2018 at Bethlehem.

Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.