Robert Earl Woodson, of Valentine, Nebraska, went to be with his Lord on January 11, 2018.

Born January 21, 1943 to Marsh Estus and Dixie Right (Moore) Woodson in Philadelphia, Mississippi, he was the eldest boy of the family and had a happy childhood with his 6 brothers and sisters: Betty Ann, Barbara Jean, William Marshal, Walter Lee, Jerry Dwayne and Terry Estus (d). Robert suffered with asthma as a child and one of the first things his family bought after getting electricity was a humidifier, so he could breathe easier.

Robert went to school and graduated from the 8th grade. He then started working to help support the family. He worked in a chicken factory getting chickens cleaned and cut up for market, a skill he loved to show off to his kids later in life. He could cut up a whole chicken in less than a minute if he wanted to, which was a skill his wife, Cheri and mother-in-law, Kathryn took full advantage of.

He joined the army at 18 and was at Biloxi, MS until a Jeep accident just outside the gate in the middle of the night landed him cross ways with the army, so he was transferred to the Air Force, where he spent 23 years at a job he loved and received many honors and accommodations, including one that was changing the Air Force permanent routine for greater efficiency. He also was in several Air Force training videos with such people as Tom Landry and Roger Staubach. Bob was an air craft mechanic and worked mainly on bombers and cargo planes. He always served his SAC bases well. He was stationed in England, Thailand, Guam, Vietnam, Offutt, Ellsworth and Dyess. Robert also continued his education, finishing high school and attending college during his time in the Air Force.

While at Offutt in Omaha, NE during 1969 he met the love of his life Cheri Elizabeth McMurtrey. They married in Omaha on August 6 and started their 48 loving years together, one always watching out for the other. They began a love of square dancing while stationed at Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX. They continued to dance when they moved back to Cher’s home state of Nebraska. He attended his last dance just one month ago. They had three children: John George (Tamra), Lisa Dawn (Jeff) and William Earl; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

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