R. Buford Woodard

Ralph Buford Woodard, 94, of 157 Candler School Road, Candler, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at the Rickman Center, Baptist Retirement Home. Mr. Woodard was born in Swain County and was a son of the late John Moses and Carrie Lucinda Hogue Woodard. He was married to Lyda Browning Woodard who died in 1980. He was retired after 29 years with American Enka and was a 59 year member of Hominy Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, drove the church bus, delivered Meals on Wheels, and was a member of the Hilltoppers Club. He is survived by one daughter, Judy W. Halyburton and her husband Thomas V. of Modesto, CA; six grandchildren, Carrie Wells and her husband Jeff, Cindi Thompson and her husband Lee, Chad Halyburton and his wife Lori, Katy Halyburton, Kristy Halyburton and Corey Halyburton; six great-grandchildren, Tegan, Whitney, Zeb and Brenna Wells, Rachel Brown and Ian Thompson; two sisters, Edna Stanberry and Hazel Phillips of Waynesville, and a special sister-in-law, Mabel Browning Woodard of Waynesville. Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm Wednesday at Hominy Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Joe Yelton and the Rev. Dr. Fred Werhan officiating. Burial will be at Pisgah View Memorial Park. His family will receive friends from 7:30 - 9:00 pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue where Mr. Woodard will remain until being placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Chad Halyburton, Buck Woodard, David Clement, Terry Leatherwood, John Fisher, and Greg Hughes. The Mens Bible Class at Hominy Baptist Chruch will serve as honorary pallbearers. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to the Hominy Baptist Church Building Fund, 135 Candler School Road, Candler, NC 28715.