Robert E. Woodward 1955-2025

He was born Sept. 29, 1955, in Warren, the son of Robert R. and Edith Coudriet Woodward. Young Bobby spent the first eight years of his life growing up in small Niles and attending local public schools.

At the age of 8, he, his mother and stepfather headed out West to San Jose, California, to start a new life, where he soon welcomed two younger brothers. When he was 10, the family of five moved just down the road to Big Redwood Park of Los Gatos in a home surrounded by the big trees for which it was aptly named. This was a great place for Bob to spend his formative teen years and just be a kid running through the forest, riding his mini bike, teaching his younger brothers wiffle ball and hanging out down by Granite Creek.

Bob enjoyed playing many sports, but his favorite was baseball. He played on many teams, from Scotts Valley Little League all the way to playing college ball for the Grace College Lancers. His lone homerun was hit in his senior year of high school for the Baymonte Christian Crusaders at Monte Vista Christian, where his younger brother, David, retrieved the ball in a corn field.

Robert was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the Persian Gulf Desert Storm / Shield Operation. He received the Navy Achievement Award for saving a fellow sailor from drowning. He proudly served his country for eight years.

After his Navy years, Robert settled back to Santa Cruz, California, where he resided for only a couple of years until he made his way back to Niles, where he spent his last 30 years. He retired from the City of Niles in 2022, where he worked in the city as a laborer for 20-plus years.

Robert is survived by his mother, Edith Slanina of Niles; brother, Eugene (Linda) Dodrill of Scotts Valley, California; and two nephews, Jason and Nathan Dodrill of Scotts Valley, California.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert R. Woodward; his stepfather, Jennings Dodrill; grandparents, Lula Woodward, and Icie and James Coudriet; uncles, James Strong and Tom Woodward; aunts, Jean and Shirley; and his brother, David Dodrill.

A military service will be held at Niles City Veterans Section on a date yet to be determined.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Holloway-Williams Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 611 Robbins Ave., Niles, 330-652-2422.

Visit www.hollowaywilliamsfuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Robert’s family.

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