Woodrow W. Hare, 88, of Tallahassee, Florida, formerly of Tifton, died Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at Tallahassee Memorial Heath Care in Tallahassee. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2007, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church Sanctuary. Dr. Wayne Roe will officiate with entombment to follow in Tift Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Wade Hare, Willie Hare, Gary Hare, Jed Dillard, Sandy Hupp, Charles Hare, Natalie Hare, Molly Hare and Ryan Hupp will serve as pallbearers. The Master's Sunday School Class of Tifton's First Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 5, 2007, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Hare was born on November 2, 1918 in Madison, South Carolina. He was sixth of nine children born to Annie Smith and H. Towns Hare. Growing up, he helped his father cut railroad ties during the depression. Later, he served in the Civil Conservation Corporation in Walla Walla, Washington, contributing to the building of our nation’s natural resources. When World War II broke out, Woodrow joined his brothers in Indian Head, Maryland, working in a Defense Department munitions factory. He was called into the United States Army and served in the 229th Infantry in the Italian theater as a member of a forward unit. When Italy was liberated and war in Europe ended, his unit was bound for the Pacific front when Japan surrendered. Before he left for war, Woodrow had met and courted Edna Faye Blackwell of Westminister, South Carolina. They married on September 23, 1945, after he returned from the war.
In 1950, he graduated from Clemson University on the GI bill with a degree in Agricultural Engineering, the first in his family to complete a college degree.
He began his career working with the Rural Electric Cooperative in Pickens, South Carolina, where they began their family. From 1956 to 1960, he worked for the University of Georgia in agricultural research in Plains, Georgia. While in Plains, he made the acquaintance of the future President, Jimmy Carter. From there, he moved his family to Lafayette, Indiana and worked with the American Zinc Company in the marketing of zinc.
He moved to Tifton, Georgia in 1960 to work with the University of Georgia Coastal Plains Experiment Station with the Southern Grain Research Station until his retirement in 1978. In his career, he was known as a hard working, dedicated, creative engineer.
He devoted his energies in retirement in the betterment of the community serving with many volunteer activities including the American Red Cross, volunteer election worker, and his church. He delighted in helping others - friends, family, and even strangers. His work with Meals on Wheels offered him the opportunity to enjoy the friendship of people in need. He also enjoyed multiple duties in the Lion’s Club and the friendship of colleagues.
He was dedicated to his family as well and never missed an opportunity to help his children and grandchildren. Throughout all his years, he delighted in finding creative ways to solve the problems that came their way. We, the children, best remember him for all the values and the creative energy he imparted to us.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. He was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church.
Mr. Hare is survived by his wife, Edna Blackwell Hare of Tallahassee, Florida; one son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Zoe Hare of Scottsdale, Arizona; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joan Hare and Jed Dillard of Monticello, Florida, and Carolyn Hare Hupp and her husband, Sandy, of Mobile, Alabama; two brothers, Furman Hare of Indian Head, Maryland and Horace Hare of Westminster, South Carolina; and four grandchildren, Jonathan Hupp, Ryan Hupp, Molly Hare and Natalie Hare.
Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Research Foundation.