Woodrow Justice

Woodrow "Woody" Wilson Justice passed away July 24, 2009 in Fincastle, Virginia. He rests in God as a new man and his life on this earth mattered. Known to friends and family as "Woody", he was born May 29, 1919 in Fines Creek Community in Haywood County where he and four siblings spent their early childhood. He came from parents whose dire circumstances sent them to what was then called the "poor house" located in Haywood County. His only sister tried hard to look after her brothers but failed to keep the family from becoming separated. From there they were shuffled from family to family. Woody joined the army as soon as he became of age and he was unaware that his three brothers were also joining army, navy and marines. "A Band of Brothers" they were and they served their country in its time of need. All four were in the armed forces at the same time and each not knowing the whereabouts of the others. Not finding each other until after the war. They are all honored with memorial plaques of remembrance at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, Washington. Woodrow served as Medical Corpsman, 9th Infantry Regiment, Battle of the Bulge, European Theatre from 1942 – 1945. He was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and spent many years in and out of hospitals. To his family, Woody is the true war hero and we honor him always for the way he served his country and the price he paid in battle. His life mattered. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Henry and Beatrice "Beaty" Messer Justice; one brother, Robert "Mickey" Lee Justice, who died in 2003; his only sister, Lucille Margaret Justice McElrath Cope, who died in 2007; maternal grandparents, G. Pinkney and Maranda Jane McCracken Messer; and paternal grandparents, John Pless and Harriett Emma Surrett Justice. Surviving are two brothers, Reverend Paul Justice and his wife, Violet, of Centralia, WA and Roy Wayne Justice Ramsey and his wife, Irene, of Franklin; and many nieces and nephews. The family is grateful to Rebecca Switzer of Fincastle, VA, a very special caregiver, who treated him as if he were a family member and his hospice nurse, Sue Camden. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2009 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Leon Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at Upper Crabtree Cemetery with military honors conducted by the VFW Post #5202 and the American Legion Post #47. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Upper Crabtree Cemetery Fund, c/o Bennett Best, 537 Bald Creek Road, Clyde, NC 28721.

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