Funeral - Bill Woodard

Message – William Gene Woodward, known best as Bill Woodward went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at the age of 79 years old. Bill passed away Saturday evening after dealing with the effects of the coronary virus which really seemed to progress on the final days of his life.

This morning, as we gather together, it is an honor and privilege to remember this great man. And also, for it to be a reminder for those of us this morning of our hope that we too profess.

Now just so you know, I didn’t personally have the privilege of knowing Bill that well, but in the short time of conversation with him, I remember just his smile and sense of humor. Bill was the type of person who was willing to do anything…. For anybody…

A former hospital corpsman during the Vietnam War, Bill would serve the Army so well with honor, courage, and commitment. This same valency that Bill displayed while serving our country, bill would carry over to his wife, kids, and grandchildren.

In fact’s what was really impressive about bill was his willingness to serve his wife Rebecca as she struggled with her own health. Bill was a caretaker, a husband, a father, and a friend. More so, bill was a man of God who faithfully served others and put the need of his fellow brothers, above his own.

Bill grew up as a farmer. In forest, Ohio with a loving mom and dad. As well as younger brother and sister. He enjoyed being outdoors. He would commonly drive his tractor to the local fair, and also show his sheep, bill enjoyed fishing and even had a sense of the inner lumberjack. In fact, I’m told that although he could have heated his home anyway, he wanted, he insisted on cutting his own wood and not just with the low-end chain saw, he had to have the best chain saw, and the gator utility vehicle to bring him to the woods, plus the top end wood stove to burn the wood end.

Now one thing about Bill that you probably know is he did have opinion on some things, he did have his preferences and he would explain why his way was right. In fact, sometimes, he would go on to explain… and then explain some more… and then explain a little further.

But ultimately, what was remarkable at Bill Woodward, was his humbleness, his character, and his smile. He was caring of others, he always willing to help out and go the distance for anyone.

You see, his humbleness and his willingness to serve others though didn’t come from Bill but ultimately, his relationship with God. Bill went to Kenton Alliance Church for more than 14 years, he helped out in maintenance at the church by doing electrical work and other needed tasks. Bill was a 4h advisor for almost 20 years investing in the lives others, and ultimately he loved the Lord Jesus.

For those of us who gather this morning, we can learn from his selfless character, we can learn from his devotion to Christ, and we too can follow His example as he followed Christ.

John 14:1-6, Jesus is speaking to his disciples. And he knew that it was ultimately better for him to Go and be with the father so that he could prepare a place for us. We’re told: 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Friends for those of us who have made Jesus the Lord and savior of our lives, we can have confidence this morning because of what lies ahead. A place with no more sorrow, no more tears, no more sadness and no more pain.

Our Father has gone and prepared a place for those of us who have made Christ the Lord of our lives. How marvelous it will be for us friends to walk the streets of Gold, to sit and dine with our Father and to be made in his glorious image where we will be given a new body.

Friends, this is our hope this morning… This is what we have to look forward to. Oh What joy we do share in meeting our Creator face to face and walking with him each day.

You know, in thinking of Bill this morning… I think we can all look at his humility and willingness to serve others. I smile this morning as I think of the story Brad told me just the other day about his dad. You see Bills wife Rebecca Had an enjoyed foot that required the home health nurse to tend to. And What’s interesting about this story is that this nurse actually didn’t know how to wrap a foot properly, and so when she came by their house Bill was willing to take the time to show this young lady how to properly wrap this foot.

Brad said that his dad first took one bandage and wrapped it around the foot to show her, and then he completely took the bandage off… and had this young lady start fresh with a new bandage… all the while teaching her and training her how to do her job.

You see, some people would have been frustrated by the circumstance, or upset that this nurse didn’t know how to do her job. But not Bill… By had a servant’s heart. You know, I’m reminded of Jesus, even up until the day that he died, he was a servant of others. The night before he would be killed, Jesus is with his disciples, and he pours out himself on their behalf. John 13 tells us of this night, and it reads: JOHN:1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Friends, this morning… Bill knew that it was only in Jesus washing away his sins that he would have an eternity with the father.

But in addition to that, Bill made it his life to serve others, to wash their feet and to care for the needs of those around him.

Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Friends, this morning, I’m pleased to say that this was the person that Bill was. He was someone who was willing to wash and care for someone else’s feet. He loved others well and we remember him this day for his servanthood.

This morning God also extends his love to us for as the bible says:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This morning friends, we too can walk in the footsteps of Bill our Lord and Savior and care for the needs of others but it must begin with God.

Friends, this afternoon, we too can join Bill —not by just believing there is a God—but by believing through faith that he loves you—that he sent his son Jesus to die for you—so your sins could be forgiven—and when we do that we are told—we are saved—from eternal damnation—there’s more to life than just this short life we live—everything and everybody has a purpose. Romans 10:9-11

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a]

This is what Bill would want us to know that we too can have this hope of salvation. That we too can be in the presence of our Lord, and friends, Bill would also want us to love one another deeply with all that we say and day.

Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Would you Pray with me?

As this final song plays, would we think of the eternity that Bill has in heaven with His Creator

Blake / Director will close.