Richard Lewis Woodruff, 85, of North Fairfield, passed away at his home on April 12th, 2022, with his loving family by his side.
He was born June 19th, 1936, at White Cross Hospital, Columbus, to the late Robert Ryerson Woodruff and Edna Wallwork Woodruff.
The passing of his dad when he was 10 made life difficult, and perhaps a result of his being a self-made independent farmer. He started his farming career selling vegetables and meat rabbits out of his Grandview Heights home at 10 years old. At 17 he came to North Fairfield to farm his grandparents’ farm and met the love of his life, Ann Phillips, and together they built a farming operation thats' legacy will live on with their children’s children. In his younger years he traveled the country with his champion coon hunting dogs competing in night hunts. Always an avid hunter and a self-taught conservationist, he devoted his life to improving the land and leaving it better than he found it.
His greatest joy in life was raising his family on the family farm. His faith was sustained by the miracles of nature, and he could be found in his senior years gazing at the improvements to the land. He also was a mentor to the many young people that worked for him, and the neighborhood kids loved his sled riding hills.
Those that survive him are his wife of 65 years, Ann (Phillips) Woodruff of North Fairfield; children, MaryAnn Woodruff of Monroeville, Nancy Smith of Norwalk, Molly (Greg) Sestili of Delaware; grandchildren, Kyle (Sara) Smith, Jacob, Joshua, Jonathan Hawk, Grant Fisher, Jennifer Hawk (Steven), Kendall & Brady Sestili; great grandchildren, Rhett, Zoe & Dax Smith, Brody, and Connor Hawk & Israel Ramos.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marjorie (Robert) Irish, and his “surrogate” parents Harry and Helen Woodruff of North Fairfield.
A visitation will be held on Monday, April 18, 2022, from 5 pm to 8 pm at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home, 98 W. Main Street, Norwalk, OH 44857. Services will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 11 am. Burial will follow in North Fairfield Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Woodruff Family to be donated to North Fairfield Fire Department and North Fairfield Museum in Richard’s honor.
The family extends a special thanks to all the wonderful caregivers who helped us care for dad over these last 4 months.
Fond memories and condolences may be shared online at www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com.
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