Clay Dean Woodcock died at age 97 in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, on February 13, 2023. He was born on August 11, 1925, in Trafford, Pennsylvania. Dean grew up in the Pittsburgh area and moved to Venice, Florida, in the mid-1990s. He moved to Crossville, Tennessee, in 2021.
Dean’s wife, Elaine Pomeroy Woodcock, his wife Harriet Sarver Woodcock, and his wife, Betty Rainey Woodcock all preceded Dean in death. Dean’s father, Clay DeWitt Woodcock, his mother, Virginia Corle Woodcock, and his brother, Fred C. Woodcock also preceded Dean in death.
Three children and their spouses survive Dean, including daughter Dana W. Bishop and husband, Jay L. Bishop, son Blair D. Woodcock and wife Nancy A. Woodcock, and son Todd A. Woodcock and wife Marcia L. Woodcock. Carole Saul, a dear friend of Dean’s and of the family, also survives Dean. Dean had nine grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild on the way.
Dean served in the U.S. Navy, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in engineering, and spent his career as an electrical engineer with the Duquesne Light Company in Pittsburgh. He served for many years on the local library board, at a nearby hospital, and as a commissioner for McCandless Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Dean was a wonderful family man and loved spending time at the family’s summer home on Indian Lake in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Dean and Harriet entertained hundreds of people at the lake over the years, and he patiently taught scores of people, young and old, how to water ski. Dean loved boating, canoeing, sailing, water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling, and working outdoors and indoors on building and repair projects. No project or task was too difficult for him to tackle. Dean and Harriet traveled to nearly every state in a Ford Econoline with a fold-out bed and a small refrigerator in the back.
Dean was a huge fan of the Steelers and the Pirates, and he also was a great athlete. He enjoyed playing softball and volleyball at the lake with everyone who visited.
Most important, Dean loved Jesus and we know he is with God in heaven now. “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). We deeply miss Dean, our dad, granddad, great-granddad, uncle, hero, and best friend.
There will be a celebration-of-life service on April 13th at 1:00 p.m. at Dean’s church in Venice, Florida (Christ Church Venice, 1475 Center Road, Venice, FL 34292). Friends and family are welcome. A reception will follow. We invite friends and family to the graveside service and reception to follow on May 20th at 1:00 p.m. Dean’s earthly remains will be buried next to Harriet at the Ingomar United Methodist Church Cemetery, 1501 W. Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Calvary Pathway Church in Crossville held a celebration-of-life service for Dean on February 26. View the service at https://boxcast.tv/view/celebration- of-life-for-dean-woodcock-kewqlzlgrfh1frj2vwjk.
For those wishing to honor Dean’s life, please send donations to Christ Church Venice in lieu of flowers.
