Charles (Chuck) Leslie Woodruff

October 31, 1940 – January 6, 2018

Charles (Chuck) Leslie Woodruff, 77, of Moses Lake, Wash., passed away on Saturday, Jan.6, 2018. He was born to Lola (Ola) Mae (Garrett) Woodruff in Salado, Ark., on Oct. 31, 1940.

Chuck grew up on a small farm in Arkansas under the care of his grandparents Charles Edgar Garrett and Martha Elizabeth Sherrill while his mother Ola was away working to support her family.

In 1945 Ola married William Oldridge and at the age of 5, Chuck, Ola and William (Bill) moved to Walla Walla, Wash. In 1951 they moved to Moses Lake.

At the age of 15, Chuck saved enough money to buy his first car, a 1947 Plymouth. Chuck graduated from Moses Lake High School June 1959. In 1961, Chuck relocated to Los Angeles, Calif. to join the military and served until 1963. He then moved to Oklahoma and eventually moved back to Moses Lake with his cousin Tommie Whitecotton. Jobs were hard to find in Moses Lake so they both moved to Bloomington, Ill. for one and a half years and then Chuck returned to Moses Lake to work in a freight yard.

In 1965 Chuck began his career as a surveyor for the Bureau of Reclamation. He was very proud of his role as an inspector on the Bacon Siphon Tunnel Project.

Chuck enjoyed fishing, hunting, western movies, ’50s and ’60s rock-n-roll music and spending time with family and friends.

On April 1970, he married Inez Guel and embraced her 4 children. They had a son Mark Allen Woodruff born Dec. 1, 1970. His children will always remember him as an honorable, strict but fair father who treated his children equally. He will be remembered for his big smile, upbeat and happy nature. Chuck was always hard-working, responsible and a good provider for his family. Although he had his health challenges, he always maintained a positive attitude. He has always loved and respected his family from a young age.

Chuck is survived by Inez Woodruff (divorced) and a good friend up until his passing, Cosme Guel, Norma McGrew, Maggie Guel, Cindy Bohn (Marty), five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, sister Mary Belle Blake, brother Darrell Oldridge and sister Valerie Sue Boston.

Chuck was preceded in death by son Mark Allen Woodruff, his mother and father and his grandparents. A memorial service was held Jan. 11 at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories at 2 p.m. Interment was at Guarding Angels Cemetery. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel and Crematory.