Woody Woods

     Michael Bayard Woods was born on July 14, 1947 on North Island Air Station in San Diego, CA. Growing up mostly between Pacific Beach and El Cajon, CA, surrounded by love and music, Michael had a good start in life. Michael and his wife Darlene met at a football game between their rival high schools. They enjoyed 6 years of dating before being wed for 56 years.

     He began his military career as a radio operator in Vietnam (1967–1968). It was very difficult to go into Vietnam as a radio operator and come home alive, but Michael managed to defy the odds and made it home with no time to spare, 12 days before his wedding to Darlene. It was at this time in his service that he was christened with the nickname, “Woody.” Michael left the Marine Corps in 1969. He was very proud of his service in the Marine Corps and was known for collecting anything related to the Corps. In 1972 Michael returned to the Marine Corps via the Marine Corps Officer Degree program. While stationed in Camp Pendleton, CA, he and Darlene welcomed a son, Jason. Five years later while stationed in Quantico, VA, they welcomed their daughter Rachel. His military service eventually brought him to Colorado Springs as the Communications Officer for the newly formed Joint Space Command Center. This is where Michael would eventually retire from his service in 1989, after having achieved the rank of Major, although he remained associated with the military throughout the rest of his life, including working at the Air Force Academy.

    Throughout his life, Michael had an enthusiasm for learning and sharing his knowledge. This began when he was a summer camp counselor at the YMCA in Sequoia National Park in 1963 and 1964. One skill that surprised people is that he loved to crochet, knit, and sew. His mother taught him to knit with him sitting on the floor across from her, as she was left-handed. He taught himself to crochet and sew. He received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. He had an incredible mind for anything mathematical or analytical and was known for teaching this wherever he could, including solving problems with his grandkids. He also taught computer science part-time at Colorado Tech. With his intelligence came little nuances that his family loved, including keeping his mind busy with puzzles and sudoku, assigning a dinosaur name for each child that he would patiently teach them about, and testing people with new memory exercises. There were many card games, dominoes, chess, and checkers when his grandkids were too young for chess.

    With his curiosity also came a love for exploring the world around him. Always active, Michael loved to backpack, camp, race walk, and much more. He participated in the Senior World Racewalking competition in England. He also loved traveling to new places, whether on his motorcycle or flying across the world. He and Darlene particularly shared a love of visiting the British Isles. Once he had finished his travels, he loved returning home to his beloved dog and a nice glass of red wine or Scotch until he would get up early the next day and begin a new adventure.

    Michael was also incredibly passionate about music since childhood. He began by playing in the band and was known for his French Horn playing, most notably playing in the Rose Parade with his high school marching band in 1962. He was active in the church music setting, and later in life he was  beloved for playing the bells. He had over 50 years’ experience singing in barbershop, having participated in and worked as an administrator and judge for many competitions, becoming the head of the contest administrators for three years. He founded the Peak Experience chorus which meets at St. Paul’s. When they were at Sunrise he became the bell director. He and Darlene also sang in a folk group called The Old Crusty Minstrels, where he played the guitar and banjo for 20 years. While his achievements in his musical career were great, his children and grandchildren also had the joy of always being surrounded by music in his home, breaking into a song at a moment’s notice. To this day, his love of music lives on in those he loved.

    Michael passed on July 27, 2024. He was preceded in death by his loving mother and father, sister-in-law Yvonne Woods and his grandson Taylor Woods. He is survived by his wife Darlene Woods, his brother Chris Woods (Patti); their children Jason Woods (Heather) and Rachel (Patrick) Ford; their grandchildren Trevor and Olivia Woods, James (Beth) Ford, Aaron (Addi) Ford, Olivia and Kayla Bruce; and their great-grandchildren Daisy and Brantley Ford, and Iris Bruce.