Clyde Edward Woodard, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on 23 November 1941 to Lillie Warren Woodard and Jaheau Bevel Woodard. He attended various schools in the Kellyville and Tulsa areas until he joined the Navy in 1958. He met his future wife, Patricia I. Nation in 1959, and they later married on 13 June 1963. Clyde and Patricia traveled with the Navy as a young couple until he was discharged from his military service in 1968. He served on the USS James Monroe (a submarine), and the USS Eversole (a destroyer tender) while on tours of duty at San Diego, CA and Virginia Beach, VA. He was also assigned to duty at New London, Connecticut, and Charleston, SC. Clyde truly loved being a Sailor; however, he loved his family more. Deployments and family separation were hard on the family, and were the two factors that swayed him to leave the Navy after reaching the rank of Torpedoman First Class .
When he returned to Oklahoma, Clyde attended night classes at Tulsa Junior College, obtaining his associates degree. After living in Houston, TX for several years, he and Patricia settled in Tulsa in 1976 and remained here to raise their family. He worked various jobs, retiring as a Field Service Engineer after 25 years with Russelectric in Tulsa. Clyde traveled all over the US and in many countries during his time with Russelectric, making a difference in lives wherever he went.
A humble man, Clyde was known for his gardening skills, his handyman skills, and his ability to hold a conversation with just about anyone on any topic; however, he will be most remembered as a man of God. Called to the ministry as a teenager, Clyde obtained his minister’s license when he was only 16 years old. A prayer warrior whose faith truly never wavered, family and friends called on Clyde many times to take their needs to God in prayer. He lifted his children up daily and guided them on a Godly path, ensuring a firm foundation on which they would build their lives. Clyde and Patricia were members of the Carbondale Assembly of God Church where he was a greeter. He also ministered to the elderly in local nursing homes. When they attended Newspring Assembly, he was a deacon and on the Board of Trustees. If the doors of the church were open and he was able to attend, Clyde was usually found there.
On Thursday, 2 January 2020, Clyde walked through the Pearly Gates of Heaven and met our Savior. He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend J.B. Woodard, his mother, Lillie Woodard, his bothers Allen Woodard, John Dean Woodard, Jimmy Lee Woodard, a sister, Oleta Mae Woodard, and a half-brother, Jaheau Bevel Woodard, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia of the home, a son Darren Woodard (wife Barbara), Verdigris, OK, a daughter Teresa Woodard del Valle (husband Alfonso), Portland, Oregon, three granddaughters, Cecilia del Valle, Lakewood, Colorado, Corrina del Valle, and Carlysa del Valle, both from Portland, Oregon, a grandson, Zachary Woodard, Verdigris, OK, a brother Frank Woodard (Tulsa), sisters Rebecca Woodard, Muskogee, Ellen Myrl Talkington, Dallas, and Beverly Cantrell, Dallas, and a host of other close family members and friends.
Arrangements and services are entrusted to Heath-Griffith Funeral Home of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
