More detail on this person: Services for Lt.
Colonel USAF Ret. Jack Garner Woodson, 82, will
be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at St. George's
Episcopal Church at 2 pm with Fr. James Flowers
officiating. Interment will follow in Hill Crest
Memorial Park. There will be a reception prior to
the service at St. George's parish hall at 1:00.
Jack was born November 2, 1932 in Ewing, Texas,
and passed away on July 13, 2015 in Bossier City,
Louisiana. The family moved from Ewing and settled
in Gatesville. Jack and his brothers and sisters
grew up as cattle and sheep ranchers, and one of
his prime motivations for success in life was to
avoid a lifetime of fixing fences.
Jack attended Texas A&M University and was a
proud member of the Corp of Cadets. He proudly
wore his Aggie ring and considered himself a
member of the Aggie family long after his
graduation in 1954.
Jack felt lucky to have had a job he loved. As an
Air Force pilot, he saw the world. He spent time
in Alaska; he flew over North Africa and Russia;
he landed in China. He spent the majority of his
career flying KC135's, saying this was "how I made
my living." During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he
was able to get lots of airtime because, like
always, he was on time for work. The Woodson
children certainly learned that punctuality is a
virtue. Jack was part of the Green Hornet Special
Operations Squadron in Vietnam, a special ops unit
that flew helicopter gunships into enemy
territory, providing reconnaissance and gunnery
support. He flew over 133 missions in Vietnam.
After returning from Vietnam, Jack served as
Squadron Commander for his helicopter unit at
MacDill Air Force Base. His work with young
officers earned him the title "Colonel Jack." He
was a decorated officer, earning the Air Force
Accommodation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air
Medal with Six Oak Leaf Clusters, the
Distinguished Flying Cross with Three Oak Leaf
Clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal
with One Bronze Star. He also earned the Air Force
Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Longevity
Service Award with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, the
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After retiring from the Air Force, Jack spent
twenty years working for the State of Louisiana in
the Employment Services. He believed strongly in
the value of work, and it was gratifying to him
when he could match the right person to the right
job.
Above all, Jack was a family man. He may have
travelled the globe, but he always came home to
June, his wife of fifty-eight years, and children.
They loved the years they spent in the Air Force,
and cherished the friends and adventures they had
together. Their house was filled with kids,
friends, and especially dogs. Even though Jack
told June that there would be no dogs in his
house, they began their life with dogs with Cocker
Spaniels then moved to the Irish Setter years.
When Jack retired from the State, he found his
real place in the world of hunt tests and field
trials. His golden retrievers and black labs were
the focus of his and June's energy. Jack served as
president of the Shreveport-Bossier Retriever Club
numerous times; he and June were lifetime
members of the club. He was the proud owner and
handler of three Master Hunters, Willie, Jazz, and
Lucy, and co-owner of two QAA AKC field trial
dogs, Itch and Maxie. Tucker, his last Golden, is
a certified therapy dog.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rob and
Pat Woodson, sister Betty Jo Woodson Byrom,
brother R. L. Woodson, and daughter Patricia Jo
Woodson. Jack is survived by his son, Jeffrey
Woodson and Susan Martinez, his significant other;
daughter, Kathy Woodson O'Neal and husband
Kevin; granddaughter, Elizabeth Woodson, brother
Mike Woodson and his wife Trudy, and sisters Mary
Woodson Voss and Virginia Woodson Fowler.
The family would like to express our gratitude to
Ellen Wall, his caregiver and card partner, and to
Dr. Ted Warren and his nurses Nina, Tanya, and
Caroline for taking care of both our parents for
years. We are grateful to Dr. Kiser and the ICU
nurses at Promise Hospital for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St.
George's Episcopal Church or Paws with a Purpose
at the Glen.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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