More detail on this person: Captain John Edson
Woolam, 81, passed away on Tuesday, December
9, 2014, with his wife and children by his side.
Ed was born on April 22, 1933 in Akron, OH to John
D. and Pearl N. Woolam. He graduated from North
High School, Akron, OH in 1951 and Kent State
University four years later with a degree in
Business Administration. He then joined the Navy
as an Aviation Officer Candidate, AOC 38-55,
serving our nation for over 30 years. Following
his designation as a Naval Aviator in 1957, he was
assigned to a helicopter squadron in Norfolk, VA.
Following tours in Corpus Christi, TX and back to
Norfolk, Captain Woolam was assigned to Lajes
AFB as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations.
During this time, he also directed the People to
People Program which helped farmers and other
citizens of Azores Archipalago. He returned to
Pensacola in 1967 as a flight instructor before
being sent to Atsugi, Japan to command a
helicopter combat squadron, which was one of the
most decorated search and rescue units in
Vietnam. In 1972, he attended the Air War College
in Montgomery and at the same time obtained a
Master's in Education from Troy State University.
He worked in curriculum development for Chief of
Naval Education, NAS Pensacola and assumed
command of Saufley Field in 1981. During his last
year in the Navy, he was Area Manager of NJROTC
in New Orleans. Upon retirement, he served as the
NJROTC instructor at Milton High School for 3
years. During his career, he received several
awards including the Meritorious Service Medal,
Joint Services Commendation Medal, 2 air medals
and numerous campaign ribbons. Ed was an avid
golfer and enjoyed traveling and spending time
with his loving family and friends.
He is preceded by his brother, Robert Lee Woolam.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his two
children, Scott Woolam and Pat Baumann; two
step-children, Lacretia Bradshaw and Scott Loller;
seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Garrett Baumann, Cody Woolam,
Daniel Haveman, Skylar Bradshaw, John Gaffney
and John Spence. Honorary Pallbearers are William
Jowers, Roy Burch, John Gash, Billy Blackwelder,
Dale Brown and AOC Class 38-55.
Visitation will be held 11:00am until the Funeral
Service at 12:00noon Tuesday, December 16, 2014
at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Rev. Frank
Beall officiating. Interment will follow at
Barrancas National Cemetery with full Navy honors
at 1:15 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola,
FL 32504 for their kind and loving assistance.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at
pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on Dec. 14,
2014
This information was last updated 12/11/2014
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