Raymond was born February 12, 1905 northeast of Chester, Oklahoma to Thomas Henry and Rosetta (Ball) Woods, and died August 9, 2001 at the Okeene Nursing Center in Okeene, Oklahoma at the age of 96 years. Raymond's parents died when he was a young boy and he then made his home with his cousin George Ball and family near Chester. When he was 21 he and his brother Ted built and operated a service station in Chester. In 1931 Raymond moved his part of the business to Fairview where he has resided until his death. On January 12, 1934, he married Ruby Riley in Fairview and they have lived here all their married life. On January 12, 2001, they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. To this union 6 children were born: one daughter, Joyce, died shortly after birth. Raymond owned and operated Woods Service Station and wholesale at 202 N. Main until he retired. He and Rudy then began farming southwest of Cedar Springs and farmed until his health failed him. Raymond was a member, Deacon and later a Deacon Emeritus at the Central Christian Church of Fairview. He was a past member of the Fairview Chamber Commerce, Lions Club, the Highway 60 Booster Club and Troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America. He served on the Fairview School Board of Education for several years and as a member of the Sport Booster Club. He rarely missed a ball game, track meet, or band concert of any school activity and one year he and Ruby were honored as the outstanding Boosters for the year and received their Yellow Jacket letter jackets and proudly wore them to all school events. In 1989 when Raymond was 84 years old the summer Olympic Games were held in Oklahoma City. Raymond was chosen to represent Fairview and he ran the torch from the north stop light to the center of town where he was honored as the oldest torchbearer in the state.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby; four sons' Ray Woods and wife Norma, Donald Woods and wife Bobbie; Kenneth Woods and wife Vicki, all of Fairview, Oklahoma; and Robert Woods and wife Linda of Phoenix, Arizona; one daughter Margaret Castleberry of Enid, Oklahoma, grandsons (Casket Bearers), granddaughters; Trina Woods, Angie Woods, Mandy Frable, and Amber Woods, eleven great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one infant daughter, Joyce, two brothers and one sister. This obituary was submitted by granddaughter Trina L. Woods.