Dr. Neal Chaffee Woods Jr.
1921-2013

Dr. Neal C. Woods, Jr. (Woody) passed away at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, Calif., from complications of a stroke on May 22, 2013, at the age of 91.

Neal was born July 23, 1921, in Burbank, Calif., to Winona (Yoder) and Neal Chaffee Woods Sr.

After graduating from Lynwood Academy in 1939, he went on to pre-med at La Sierra College and then medical school at Loma Linda University.

He graduated from Loma Linda University with his Doctorate in Medicine in 1946. He then began his internship at Maine General Hospital in Portland, Maine.

After his internship, he was drafted into the US Army where he served time in the Philippines and Japan. He enjoyed his “paid vacation” in Japan compliments of the US Army.

After his discharge from the Army, still single, he began his medical practice in Kelseyville, Calif., in 1948, while living at Highland Springs Ranch.

Joanne Slater, Neal’s sister, introduced him to Mildred McGavock (Millie), and on July 22, 1951, they were married.

The newly married couple settled in a small home in Kelseyville but were asked less than a year later to become medical missionaries to Japan where he became the first medical director after World War II in a rebuilding effort for the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Tokyo.

Their first child, Neal C. Woods III (Jay), was born in Tokyo, Japan nine months after they arrived in 1953, followed by two more children, Jennifer in 1955 and Joan in 1957.

His years in Japan were among the happiest and would recount many stories of mountain hikes with Japanese friends. He loved the beaches of Japan as well as the mountains and would take every opportunity to explore around Japan.

In 1967, he returned to Lake County and became head of the radiology department at Lakeside Hospital until his retirement 1993.

He was an avid reader, traveler, backpacker and gardener. He traveled to Europe, China, Alaska and a lot of places in between.

He especially liked the Snow Mountain Wilderness Area. He was instrumental in working with his congressmen to pass the California Wilderness Act of 1984 which created the wilderness area. This was his refuge, often hiking alone, with an unknown number of trips to the summit.

Neal was a very devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He leaves behind his wife, Millie, of 62 years; his son, Neal Chaffee Woods III, (Paula); his two daughters, Jennifer Davey (Gary) and Joan Gately.

He has seven grandchildren, Justin, Chaffee, Samantha, Nicholas, Annie, Zachary and Kara, and his new great grandson, Mac Woods. He got to visit with Mac about six weeks before his death.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

There will be a celebration of his life at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, July 13, 2013, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to a Charity of your choice or to ADRA: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904. www.ADRA.org , Tax ID#: 52-1314847.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport, Calif.