William Woodis

Williams Roberts Woodis, 96, died peacefully on September 17, 2024, in Windsor, CO with his wife and daughter at his side. Bill was born at home on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1927, his brother, John, says he ruined a perfectly good dinner. The baby of the family, Bill was born 5 miles west of Deer Trail, CO on a large wheat farm with 4 older brothers and two older sisters, who are all deceased. His parents were Clark Woodis and Ruth Knowlton, siblings Warren, Donald (Tad), Margaret, Clark Cumings (who died at 18 months), Dorothy and John. Sadly, Bill’s mother passed away from a stroke in 1931 leaving Bill to the care of his Aunt Helen, Uncle Skig and his sister Margaret, who took on the role of mother in the family. Despite the loss of his mother, his family remained very close. 

After graduating from High School in 1945, being the top of his class (of 6), Bill went to CU Boulder receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1950. That same year found Bill drafted into the Army. He served in the Korean War obtaining the rank of First Lieutenant receiving awards in The Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal. Bill concluded his military service in 1953 and pursued a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering at CU. 

Shortly after starting his master’s program Bill met the love of his life, Viola Schmitz, on a blind date. Being the cheap Scotsman he is, he started dating Vi and told her it would be cheaper to marry her than pay someone else to type his master’s thesis. They were married in Denver on April 9, 1954. There was never a more loving and devoted couple. They celebrated 70 years of marriage last April. 

The Woodis family moved to Broomfield, CO in 1957 where Bill took a job working for Martin Marietta. Bill had his dream job of building the space program. Bill’s team developed the parachutes for the solid rocket boosters on the Space Shuttle. He was able to attend many shuttle launches, both to see the launch and to retrieve the boosters in the ocean. He also worked on the Mars Rover and other projects. 

Music has always been an important part of Bill’s life. His family was very musical and provided music for Deer Trail in the form of a barbershop quartet, dance band and other vocal and instrumental performances. It was said that without the Woodis family there would be no entertainment in Deer Trail. He sang in Denver Tech and Sound of the Rockies barbershop choruses, his barbershop quartet (Four to the Bar), Broomfield Swing Choir and could play the piano. 

Sports were also a big part of his life from childhood through retirement. He participated in baseball, basketball and 6-man football in High School and played intramural sports in college. Bill coached little league baseball and was recruited to coach the newest sport to come to Colorado – soccer, which he knew nothing about, but he encouraged us to stuff Reader’s Digest magazines into our knee socks for chin guards and away we went. As a side note, many of his grandchildren and great grandchildren have become excellent soccer players. Bill played Senior softball, basketball and volleyball until he couldn’t see the ball anymore. He was also on a bowling team. 

Bill loved fishing, horseback riding, his dogs, playing cribbage, ice skating, square dancing and jitterbugging with Vi. He and Vi were world travelers and loved to go on cruises and adventures with the “6 pack” (Margaret, George, John, Jean, Bill and Vi) and sometimes others. 

Bill and Vi are the proud grandparents of 9 and great grandparents of 18. They loved spending time watching band concerts, dance recitals, sports events and participating in the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Bill suffered from Parkinson’s, blindness and was bed bound for 1 ½ years. He was very resilient through the transition from Independent Living to Assisted Living and then to Skilled Nursing. We are ever grateful for the services provided to him through Keystone at Legacy Ridge in Westminster, Columbine Health Services in Windsor and Canyon Hospice. These facilities showed such warmth and compassion and loved to see Bill and Vi holding hands and sneaking a kiss. 

William Woodis is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and great grandson Rufus Loucks. He is survived by his wife Viola (97) of Windsor, CO, his children Pat Woodis of Westminster, CO, Sue Loucks (Bruce) of Windsor, CO, Steve Woodis (Peggy) of Montrose, CO, Joan Lenec (Andy) of Broomfield, CO and Constance Woodis (John) of Denver, CO. He is also survived by grandchildren: Zack Loucks (Brooke), Cody Loucks (Jamie), Cameron Loucks (Sandy), Kelsey Loucks (Shanna), Amy Mitchell (Jeff), Jeff Woodis (Chanelle) Ethan Woodis, Madison Goering, Clark Goering (Anna) and great grandchildren Taylor Chandler (Caisen), Max Loucks, Corbin Loucks, Preston Loucks, Cooper Loucks, Kyler Loucks, Jaxon Loucks, Austin Mitchell, Dax Loucks, London Loucks, Cade Mitchell, Zoey Loucks, Alister Mitchell, Dakota Loucks, Lennix Loucks, Lucy Loucks and Beckett Mitchell. 

A celebration of life memorial service will be held on November 2nd at Double Tree by Hilton at 8773 Yates Dr. Westminster at 11:00. Lunch will be provided.