Woodard, Marvin Patrick

Retired Signal Mountain Dentist, WW II Veteran

  • Thursday, November 17, 2005

Dr. Marvin Patrick Woodard, retired Signal Mountain dentist, died Thursday, November 17, 2005. He was 87 years old.

Dr. Woodard was born in Birmingham, AL, on June 11, 1918 and moved to Chattanooga when he was four. He graduated from Chattanooga High School and attended Vanderbilt University for three years before entering military service in February 1941.

During WWII, he served five years, graduating from Officers Candidate School, Communications School, and the Officers Advanced Training School at the Cavalry School in Fort Riley, Kansas. He was stationed with the 6th Calvary in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, and the 16th Cavalry in Camp Forrest, TN; Fort Devans, MA; Camden and Saco, Maine; and Camp Picket, VA. He served with the First Armored Division, 81st Reconnaissance in Italy and Germany.

After his tour of duty, Dr. Woodard graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, School of Dentistry in Memphis. During the Korean War, he served two years in the Army Dental Corps at Camp Polk, LA. He was a retired Lt. Colonel, USAR.

In 1952, he opened his dental office. He was the first dentist to practice on Signal Mountain. He was a Life Member of the Third District Dental Society and the Tennessee and American Dental Association. He was a long-time volunteer at the Siskin Dental Clinic for the Handicapped.

Dr. Woodard was a member of the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder, Sunday school teacher, president of the Men of the Church, president of the Men of Knoxville Presbytery, and Commissioner to the General Assembly. In 1996, he received the honor of Presbyterian Elder Emeritus. He also served as a short term dental missionary to Haiti in 1980.

Dr. Woodard was a charter member and past president of the Signal Mountain Lions Club. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow in Lions Club International. He was active in the Gideons International and the Retired Officers Association. His college fraternity memberships included Kappa Sigma and Psi Omega. He served as a volunteer at the National Medal of Honor Museum and Alexian Brothers Health Care.

Dr. Woodard was preceded in death by his parents, John Wesley Woodard and Virginia Kelly Woodard; brothers, John Wesley Woodard, Jr., Charles Hill Woodard; stepmother, Opal F. Woodard.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Reed Woodard; his four children and their spouses, Ann and Rev. James Brownlee of Dalton, GA; Janet and Roy J. Clarkson Jr. of Springville, AL; Elizabeth "Betsy" and Dr. Gary Phillips of Chattanooga; and Marvin Patrick Jr. and Lynn Woodard of Woodstock, GA; six grandsons, Clay and Sarah Davies of Atlanta, GA; Roy J. Clarkson of Alpharetta, GA; David Phillips of Chattanooga; Kristopher and Katie Clarkson of Leeds, AL; Michael Woodard and Alexander Woodard of Woodstock, GA; four granddaughters, Elizabeth "Beth" and Bill Lewis of Seattle, WA; Kelly and Tom Okie of Chattanooga; Rebecca Ann Phillips of Chattanooga; Corrie Clarkson of Springville, AL; two great-grandsons, Cole and Logan Davies of Atlanta, GA; and brother, C. Lasseter Woodard, Boone, N.C.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, with Dr. William E. Dudley officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Burial was in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church or to the Gideons.

Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, Coulter Chapel. Visit www.lane-coulterchapel.com to send condolences.

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