Oliver Woods

© Stilwell (OK) Democrat Journal
December 11, 2002
Submitted by: Wanda Elliott

Oliver Woods, son of Thomas Calvin (Cal) and Sarah Jane Thurman Woods, passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2002 in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 93 years, nine months, seven days. He was born February 27, 1909 north of Westville, Oklahoma, one year, three months after Oklahoma became a state. On October 18, 1929 he was married to Bessie Guthrie, daughter of Joe and Effie Self Guthrie, in Westville. They made their home on a farm west of Westville. After Bessie's death June 8, 1973, Oliver continued to live on the farm until he needed extra care. Then he made his home with his son, Burlan in Westville, and his daughter, Wilma in Springfield, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cal and Jane, who arrived in Indian Territory from Arkansas on Christmas Day 1885 with their son Willie and settled on the land north of Westville where Walter Kindle's dairy bar is located. Cal and Jane had nine more children: Benjamin "Ben", Stella, James "Jim", Nellie, Thomas "Tom", Katherine "Kate", Minnie, Forrest, and Lloyd, all born in Indian Territory. Some of these children saw the first railroad being built through Westville and the first passenger train to arrive in Westville, and saw Westville become a town. Two more children, Oliver and Elsie, were born after statehood, in the new state - Oklahoma.

All of Oliver's brothers and sisters have preceded him in death. He is survived by his son, Burlan of Westville, his daughter, Wilma Arnold of Springfield, Missouri; five grandchildren, Kyle Phillips of Springfield, Missouri, Dr. Doak Phillips of Columbia, Missouri, Blake, Breck and Beth Woods of Westville, Oklahoma; and 15 grandchildren.

Oliver is the last of twelve children whose lives have spanned over a hundred sixteen years in what is now Adair County, Oklahoma. All 12 of Cal and Jane's children made Adair County their lifetime home, and when Oliver is buried Sunday, all twelve children will have been buried in Adair County.

Oliver's funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday, December 15, at Hart's Funeral Home in Westville. Burial will be with his wife in the Westville Cemetery. Instead of sending flowers, the family would appreciate it if you would spend the money researching your family history. Oliver loved to read and spent hours reading about the lives of people in the Adair County History book. He knew most of the families in the book and often made comments that he had driven cattle or done something else with some member of that family.