Donald P. Woods, 90, of Columbus, Ohio died surrounded by his three children on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 7:24 a.m. at Sunrise Assisted Living (Bloomingdale, IL) where he had been residing near his daughters and their families since 2021.
Don was born June 11, 1935, in Louisa, Kentucky to Lawrence and Easter (Roberts) Woods. During his youth, the family moved to Madison Mills, Ohio to expand the family livestock and farming business that Don worked throughout his formative years. After graduating from Washington High School (Washington C.H., Ohio), Don attended The Ohio State University where he made the Freshman football team as a walk-on without ever having played organized football at any level. He took great pride in making the practice squad for what became the legendary 1954 Buckeyes National Championship team under Coach Woody Hayes. Although his playing career was cut short by injury, he remained a devout OSU football fan throughout his life—making 2025 yet another high point in his Ohio State Football fandom. After taking a long hiatus in his formal education, Don returned almost four decades later to earn a B.S. in Business Administration from his revered alma mater. Don began his professional life by serving his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Hydrogen bomb testing at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. After leaving the military, Don embarked on professional career that ranged from being a Real Estate broker to owning and running one of the most respected independent DMV Licensing Agencies in the state for over 21 years. But his life passion even beyond his love of the Ohio State Buckeyes was the Ohio State Fair. Appointed to the Ohio Expo Commission by Governor John Gilligan in 1974, and appointed Chairman of the Commission by Governor Jim Rhodes, Don served the Ohio State Fair in various roles during his twenty-plus years of service. In addition to his service on the Commission, Don partnered with his lifelong friend Dave Patton to do the advertising for the Ohio State Fair during the administration of Governor Dick Celeste. Never wanting to be away from ‘The Fair,’ Don even ran concessions operations in his later years. All of his years of service and support culminated in Don being inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 2007. Don was a twenty-year-old member of Fayette Lodge #107 F. & A. M. and was a 32nd Degree Mason.
He was predeceased by his treasured siblings, Mary Bumgarner, James Woods, and Paul Woods and deeply missed grandson, Blake Carlson.
Don is survived by his beloved three children, Juliette Herne of Schaumburg, IL, Jill Carlson of Bloomingdale, IL, Mark Woods and his wife, Michelle, of Santa Monica, CA; adored five grandchildren, Grant Carlson, John Herne and his fiancé Natalie Cush, Olivia Kelly and her husband Vince, Chloe Carlson and her fiancé Roy Shear, and John Woods; and cherished seven great grandchildren, Eleanor Kelly, Meadow Shear, Lincoln Kelly, Dominic Kelly, Jude Kelly, Melody Shear, and Violet Kelly plus many nieces, nephews, family members, and close friends who were there for him over the years.
A masonic service, to be immediately followed by the funeral service, will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington C.H., Ohio with Phillip Webb, pastor of Madison Mills Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.
Viewing hours are at the funeral home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com
