GERALD G. WOOLFORD
May 29, 1935- December 31, 2023
Gerald G. Woolford was born in Mountain View, Missouri, May 29, 1935 to Elmo Cecil and Thelma Irene Woolford. He was the oldest of 8 children.
Jerry was united in marriage to Billie M. Dunham in September 1955. They were blessed with four children: Marla Jo (Mark) Brown of Roby, Missouri, Richard Kevin (Lee) Woolford of Peculiar, Missouri, Gerald G. (Joy) Woolford of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and Tamara Adonna Woolford of Kansas City, Missouri.
Jerry graduated from Osceola High School where he enjoyed sports, especially basketball. After graduating from high school, he served in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1960. Jerry served as a weather meteorologist, gathering, accessing, and interpreting weather and environmental intelligence from deployed locations. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he moved with his family to Roscoe, Missouri and worked with his father-in-law, Bill Dunham, in his well drilling business. In 1961, the family moved to the Kansas City area where Jerry was a truck driver for Pepsi Cola Company. He served as the President of the truck driver’s Teamsters Local #838, while working for Pepsi. In 1969, after the death of his father-in-law, Bill Dunham, he returned to the well drilling business to help until closing the business. Jerry became manager of Crown Stone in 1971 and continued to work there until buying the company in 1983. Jerry owned the company until he retired in 2011.
Jerry enjoyed all activities his children and grandchildren participated in. He coached many little league baseball teams, and loved every minute of it. He was a caring, giving and protective father, grandfather (Boppy), and great-grandfather. Jerry was always there for anyone in need, and he truly lived for his family.
Jerry was preceded in death by an infant sister, Wilma; an infant brother, Jimmy; brothers Elmo Woolford, and Bill Woolford; sister Wilda Carnell and grandsons, Jared Daniel Gray and William Clayton Gray.
Besides his children, survivors include: sisters, Darlene Thresher of Newburgh, Indiana, and Betty (Richard) Wood of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; grandchildren, Lauren (Ryan) Arnet of Charlotte, North Carolina, Kendra Woolford and Gerald Woolford both of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Amber Woolford of Raymore, Missouri, Caitlyn Woolford of Kansas City, Missouri, William Woolford of Kansas City, Kansas, Scott Brown of Lamar, Missouri and Andrea Brown of Osceola, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Taliya Guenther of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Kaiya and Lake Smith of Osceola, Missouri, Cash and Swayzie Jo Brown of Lamar, Missouri, Alec and Layla Woolford of Kansas City, Missouri, and Madilyn Joy Ann and Noah Woolford of Independence, Missouri. He also left nieces and nephews who will deeply miss him.
Jerry did not wish to have a funeral service, so to respect his wishes his children will be scattering his ashes on his favorite deer hunting spot in the timber he loved.
God saw you getting tired,
and a cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around you
and whispered “come to me”.
With tearful eyes we watched you,
and saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we couldn’t make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
he only takes the best.
2 Messages
May the love of God surround you and your family during this difficult time,
May you come to know that the love of God is with you always,
May your memories of Gerald G. Woolford, give you peace, comfort and strength…
Rest now in the arms of our Lord your mission on earth is complete.
I thank you for your service to our Country and my Freedom. You will not be forgotten.
My thoughts
and prayers to the family of ….
US Air Force Veteran, Gerald G. Woolford, is “A True American Hero” God Bless†
† Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 †
He was the best uncle, ever. He saved me from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean, came to my rescue when I caught my tummy in a play rifle, and wrote letters to me when I moved away from home on my own. While he never said the words, I knew I was loved. He was a wonderful man who would. go out of his way to help anyone. He was a strong man with a deep sense of family. What an amazing life he had.
Leave a Condolence