Milford chronicle., 1957-08-09
J. w. WOCdfOrd Died
Suddenly Last Sunday
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of Delaware in 1881; for years he
had been 33rd degree deputy from
Delaware to the Supreme Council,
and was awarded the Henry Price
Medal in 1947 by the Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts for distinguished
service in Freemasonry.
On Saturday last, he and Mrs.
Woodford watched the Shrine par
ade of Nur Temple at Rehoboth
Beach before going to Indian Riv-
er Bay.
During his years as mayor from
1924 to 194S, Mr.. Woodford saw
Dover grow from a town into a
corporate city. Until the elections
of 1916 and 1947, he never filed
as a candidate, never made a cam
paign speech, and never was op-
posed. In his last two elections, he
won handily both times, the last
year by ,284 to 79.
Mr. Woodford Joined Richardson
and Robbins of Dover in 1910. At
,he time of his death, he was sec
retary of the firm.
He was much in demand as a
luncheon and dinner speaker. Early
last month he told the Wilmington
niwanis Club luncheon that the
detectives of life are "a friendly
world, braver world, and a bet
-er world" Even in informal con-
yersatiOn he was something of a
spellbinder. For decades, he met his
friends and neighbors for curbside
discussions at Loockermah and
State Streets, Dover.
His unpaid post as mayor SO held
ais interest that he turned down
domination for U. S. senator, rep
tesentative, and governor.
He helped establish the city man
ager form of government for Dover
n 1929. He was a Democrat. but
shared patronage with Republicans.
Mr.. WoodfOrd was a member OF
The Delaware Emergency Relief
Commission set up in 1882, had
been on the State Board of Educa-
riOn and the State Unemployment
Commission, was civilian defense
coOrdinator of Kent County and
mead of the Kent County Tire Ra-
tioning Board and Kent County
Draft Board No. l during World
War II.
He had been president of the
board of trustees of Kent General
Hospital, was past chairman of the
Dover District Council of Boy
Scouts, was Kent County chairman
of the Delaware Safety Council.
and member and former official
of Peoples CongregationaI-C Christ
ian Church.
He was director of Delaware
Power & Light Company and of the
Delaware Railroad Company.
Before coming to Dover in 1910
Mr.. WoodfOrd worked several
years in Baltimore where he COM
pleted his education at a business
college.
He was born in Centreville, Nd,
son of William ]. and Ida Cole
WoodfOrd, and attended public
schools there.
In addition to his past Masonic
leadership on the state and nation
al level, Mr. Woodford was past
master of Union Lodge z, AT. &
A.N1', OOfSl5 past ulSn PRIEST anu
past grand priest of Kent Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons; a past
grand master of Adoniram Coun-
Gil of the Royal and Select Mas
ters, and past eminent commander
of st. Johns CommanddSy of
Knights Templar.
He was a member of Evergreen
Forest Of the Tall Cedars of Lee
banon, Lu Lu Temple of the Shrine.
Delaware Conclave % of the Red
Cross OF Constantine, the Grand
Council of the Order of DeMolay,
the Royal Order of Scotland, and
the York Cross of Honor. He was
an honorary member of DUPONT
Chapter 78, National Sojourners.
Mr.. Woodford married Eva L.
Hazel of Dover on March q, 1916.
She was killed in an automobile
accident in 1916. On November %,
1947, he married Mrs. Evelyn Hor-
ney MCGOWAN of Wilmington, who
survives.
He is also survived by a brother.
Walter Woodford of Centreville; o
sister, Mrs Mildred Lay of Colum-
bia, S. c., and several nieces and
nephews.