Roll Call Tribute

Donald Everett "Don" Woodard 

March 27, 1936 - January 23, 2024 

Donald (Don) Everett Woodard, 87 of Rusk, passed away January 23, 2024 in Rusk, TX. He was born March 27, 1936 in Ruston, LA to Mannie W Woodard and Lessie Wilber Giles Woodard.

“Donnie” as he was known, graduated from Rusk High School in 1954, and Texas A&M University, Class of 1958 with his degree in Industrial Technology. He entered into service with the US Army in 1959 as an officer.

He met Bonnie Dean Floyd in 1959 on a blind date. They both knew right off that they would be married and he soon asked her what she was doing on December 27, 1959. They were married on that day at Glenwood Methodist Church in Tyler. Don worked as a Quality Assurance Engineer for several companies across the United States, from Tyler to California, to Illinois to Minnesota. He would retire on Sept. 7, 2001 and choose to immediately move back to Rusk.

During his retirement, he was very involved in the First Baptist Church in Rusk. He enjoyed volunteering for committees and working around the church. Mr. Woodard always kept his education up to date. He received his Masters in Quality Control as soon as it was offered. In fact he was the 5th person in the United States to receive his Masters in Quality Control. He also earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration while they were living in California. The importance that he placed on education showed his children how important that education and pursuing a degree is in life.

Mr. Woodard is survived by his wife: Bonnie Woodard of Rusk; son: Everett Woodard of Needville, TX; daughter: Leslie Ann Schobernd and husband Michael of Brighton, IL; grandchildren: Blake Durham and wife Katye, Connor Schobernd, Chasidy Metz and husband Bryan, Crystal Schobernd, Jonathan Schobernd; two great granddaughters; one great grandson; sister-in-law: Mary Ann Woodard; one niece; two nephews; as well as a number of extended family members. Don is preceded in death by his parents; brother: Reagan Neil Woodard; and niece: Karen Woodard.

A celebration of Mr. Woodard’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 29, 2024 at the First Baptist Church, 372 East 4th Street, Rusk, TX with Pastor Brian Givens and Rev. Jacob Fitzgerald officiating. There will be a time for visiting with his family from 1 to 2:00 p.m. at the church before the services. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Rusk. Pallbearers will be: Everett Woodard, Reagan Woodard, Greg Woodard, Mike Schobernd, Blake Durham, Doug Coffman. Honorary Pallbearers will be his classmates from the Rusk High School Class of 1954. Services are entrusted to Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home, Rusk, TX.