William Wells “Woody” Woodworth, 88, of West Linn, formerly of Svensen, died Thursday, June 12, 2008, in West Linn.

He was born Aug. 21, 1919, in Stafford, to Edwin A. and Ethel M. (Wells) Woodworth. He was raised in Willamette, and graduated from West Linn High School. He was an Eagle Scout. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in forest management and was a member Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific islands on a 592 engineer boat and in a shore regiment. He was decorated several times for valorous conduct. He also served in the Korean War. He was active in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1959. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in the amphibian engineers.

In 1942, he married Jean Bowman. She preceded him in death in 1996.

In 1997, he married Zella Fromong Eyler in West Linn. She survives, residing in West Linn.

Mr. Woodworth resided in Svensen for six years, where he was employed by Crown-Zellerbach Corporation in a supervisory position. He moved to various small communities during his 34-year career with Crown Zellerbach and for his military service.

He initiated the organization of the first Svensen Volunteer Fire Department, and served as its first fire chief. He supervised crews that fought major forest fires in Tillamook-area forests. He was also a 4-H forestry leader. He was a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge in Molalla and Astoria and the Elks. More recently, he was a member of the Christian Church.

Family members said he loved camping, fishing, hunting and being in the woods.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Barbara W. Saigo of St. Cloud, Minn., and Betty W. Kellogg of Milwaukie; a son, William W. Woodworth II of Lake Tapps, Wash.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Evelyn “Honey” Messuri of Caldwell, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Eudora Millegan and a brother, Edwin Woodworth.

A memorial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 11801 S.E. Mount Scott Blvd. in Portland. A military honor service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery, followed by an informal reception at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America.