Richard A. Woodward

Richard (Dick) Alexander Woodward, 82, passed away on April 17, 2016. He lived in Forest Hill and formerly Bel Air, Maryland for 55 years.

He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Helen Raab Woodward, and their three children, Rick Woodward of Hydes, MD, Cindy Woodward Webb of Clearwater, FL and Christy Woodward Holden of Forest Hill, MD, and son-in-law W. Brian Holden. Also surviving are their six grandchildren, Greg, Nick, & Andrea Woodward; Rachel Webb Keon; and Brian and John Holden.

Dick was the oldest child of the late Arthur H. and Dorothy S. Woodward of Bel Air, and is survived by a sister Anne W. Price, of Bel Air, and a brother, Arthur H. (Jay) Woodward II, of Jarrettsville.

Dick grew up in the Hamilton area of Baltimore City, and was infatuated with the fire company from a young age. He hung out and was the "house cat" at Truck 14 in Lauraville. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute "A" Course, and then graduated from Towson High School in 1951. He joined the Long Green Volunteer Fire Company, and also enlisted in the 459th Firefighting Platoon in the Army Reserve.

After graduation, Dick worked as Electrical Repairman at Glenn L. Martin for 18 months, until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Security Agency during the Korean War. He was stationed at Ft. Breckenridge, KY; Ft. Devans, MA; and Vint Hill Farms Station, Warrenton, VA. While stationed in Virginia, Dick also joined the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company. Married in 1955, he and Helen lived in Warrenton the first year of their marriage.

After his discharge in 1956 they moved to Bel Air, where Dick immediately joined the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, and returned to work at Martin-Marietta. While employed there as a Senior Engineer, he did structural testing, thermal-barrier development, and power package for satellites. He also earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, Evening College, after 11 years of night school.

In 1968 he began working at Aberdeen Proving Ground in the Test and Evaluation Command until 1973, when he left to begin his "second career" selling fire trucks. He started his own family business, Woodward Associates, Inc., in 1982, where his wife Helen, son Rick, and daughter Christy also worked. He and Helen retired from his business in 1995, and enjoyed boating, golfing, and traveling in their RV, while still remaining active in the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

Dick was an Exemplary Life Member of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, having served in every administrative and tactical firefighting office, including Chief and President over his 55+ years of service. He developed the Pump Operator class and taught it for many years, and he established the fire company's Equipment Replacement Fund. He served as President of the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association, and was the Liaison for the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company with the Town of Bel Air. Dick was a Certified Instructor for the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute of the University of Maryland.

Pallbearers will be Paul Chizmar, Tony Coliano, Bill Snyder, Steve Cox, Richard Presberry, Mark Johnson, Dave Winchester and Tom Schaech; and with Honorary Pallbearers Don MacLean, Tom Zecha and Ray Belcher.

Those who desire may make donations in Dick's name to The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, 109 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014.