Col. Robert “Bob” Woods, U.S. Army Ret., 83, of Merrimack passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 at Catholic Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Malden, MA on October 10th, 1934 to the late Mary (Regan) and George Woods, Sr. He was raised in Everett, MA and was a graduate of Malden Catholic High School. Bob attended Providence College on a baseball scholarship where he received a Bachelor of Education. He participated in the school’s ROTC program and upon graduation was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.

Bob spent 25 years in the Army, moving frequently throughout the country and overseas. He spent a year in Vietnam as a Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese troops where he was awarded the Silver Star and several other distinguished metals. As a Lt. Colonel he was selected to attend the prestigious National War College in Washington, DC and received his Masters Degree in Asian Studies. In 1980 Bob retired as a full Colonel after proudly serving his country for 25 years. For the next 17 years he worked at Sanders/Lockheed-Martin as the Director of International Marketing for Radars.

Bob loved all sports but had a particular love of baseball. He coached Babe Ruth for many years in Merrimack as well as the Over 30 and Over 40 baseball teams in Bedford. He was admired and respected by many young men and is loving referred to as “Coach” even to this day.

In 2008, after his youngest son was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, he and his wife Edna, founded the New England Parkinson’s Ride. The annual cycling event has raised over $3.2 million for The Michael J. Fox Foundation in the 10 years since its inception.

Despite all of his accomplishments, Bob’s true pride and joy was his family. He married the love of his life, Edna (Thain) Woods in 1955 and remained happily married for 62 years. Together they raised 7 children, Robert Woods, Jr. and his wife Karen of Munsonville, NH, Cindy Woods Theberge and her husband Robert of Merrimack, Ronald Woods and his wife Susan of AL, Doug Woods and his wife Kim of Merrimack, Eric Woods of GA, Chris Woods and his wife Terry of Merrimack, and Diane Woods of OH. Their legacy continued on to include 18 grandchildren; Cassie Saunders, Erikka Brecheisen, Lucas Woods, Mark Woods, Ronny Woods, Stephen Theberge, Randi Weems, Nathan Desrosiers, Mikkenna Maia, Erin Desrosiers, Samantha Woods, Sean Woods, Hali Woods, Jessie Dudman, Cooper Paul, Taylor Woods, Alex Dudman, and Andrea Woods as well as 13 great-grandchildren; Emma, Zak, Jackson, Delaney, Maria, Ava, Ellie, Sam, Max, Luca, Camila, Alice, and little Solomon who will be waiting for his Bumpa in heaven.

Besides his parents, Bob was pre-deceased by his two siblings, George Woods, Jr., and Eleanor D’Ambrosio.

Family and friends were kindly invited to attend calling hours at the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack on Wednesday December 6th from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 13 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack on Thursday December 7th at 9:30 AM, with a comfort meal afterwards at the church. Following the meal, there was a procession to a full military burial at the NH Veteran’s Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Bob’s memory to the New England Parkinson’s Ride, P.O. Box 1124, Merrimack, NH 03054 or online at https://neparkinsonsride.com/in-memory-of-co-founder-bob-woods/ Please select Team Woods in the drop down box.

To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit rivetfuneralhome.com.