Terry K. Woods

Terry K. Woods

After numerous attempts and near misses, death finally caught up to Terry K. Woods, 85, at his home on May 6, 2022. A lifelong resident of Canton since his birth on March 2, 1937, he was fortunate to be both successful and lucky during his time on this earth. His successes include being a 1955 graduate of Timken High School where he was involved in jazz band. He successfully earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University and a Masters Degree from the University of Akron. Between degrees he served as a first lieutenant in the US army, stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and in France. He considered himself lucky to have served in a peacetime army. He achieved varying levels of success at his three jobs as an engineer - E.W.Bliss Company, Timken Company, and Goodyear - the latter which he retired from in 2001. He also successfully published numerous pieces of writing, both fiction and nonfiction, including five books on canal history which made him one of the leading researchers on canals in the country.  Terry was a member of the American Canal Society, the Ohio Canal Society and the New York State Canal Society, having served all three as President, and also a member of the Pennsylvania Canal Society, and was an active member of the Indiana Canal Society.  Terry was a member of the Massillon Train Club and the Massillon Museum and authored a book regarding Massillon.

If asked what was better, being successful or being lucky, Terry would have answered being lucky. He was lucky to have had both his parents, Kenneth Clarence Woods and Fanchon Caroline (Mowry) Woods, on this earth with him for over seven decades. He is lucky to have his first friend and only sibling, Sandra (Woods) Staats, with him the entirety of his life. He was lucky to marry the beautiful Rosanne (McFarland) Woods eight months after meeting her despite her being way out of his league. They would go on to be happily married for 55 years and be lucky enough to grow their family to include five children and nine grandchildren. He was lucky to evade death three previous times: in 1955, 1995, and 2010. His luck really shone when he took the little league team he coached in 1994 from a regular season record of 1-15 to winning the league championship. Anyone who was familiar with Terry was unlucky to have to listen to every minute detail of that season anytime the conversation steered toward baseball, or winning, or anything really. 

He is lucky enough to have his memory cherished by numerous people. In addition to his sister and his wife he is survived by his children Susan (Mike) Cammel, Kevin (Michelle) Woods, and John Woods all of Canton; Robert (Leslie) Woods of Cincinnati, and Kathleen (Jeremy) McIntyre of Gainesville, FL; grandchildren Nicholas, Jennifer, Brian, Brooklynn Cammel, Madelyn Woods, Bailey, Genevieve, Cayden, Liam McIntyre as well as numerous sisters and brothers-in law, nieces, nephews, and friends.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Sat., May 14, 2022, at 10 a.m. in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church with Fr. Benson Okpara as Celebrant.  Friends may call Friday 5-8 p.m. at the Formet-Clevenger & Gordon Funeral Home and Sat. 9:30-10 a.m. at the church before the Mass.  Interment will be in Sunset Hills Memory Gardens with Military Honors.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Terry’s memory may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 3430 St. Michael Blvd. NW, Canton, OH 44718.  Condolences may be sent to: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com

Gordon (330) 456-4766

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