Donald Walter Woodfield, 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 3, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at the First Health Hospice House in West End, NC. Don was born on November 24, 1941 in Buffalo, NY to Arlene and Spencer Woodfield, the 8th of 14 children. He grew up in Bemus Point, NY. Shortly after high school he joined the Air Force where he discovered his love of teaching. He served proudly in the Vietnam War and after 8 years, decided to leave military service. He had a short career as an accountant before eventually pursuing his true calling of becoming a teacher. He completed his undergraduate degree in Physical Education at SUNY Brockport in 1981 and then moved to North Carolina to get his Master’s degree in Teaching at UNC Greensboro. His dream career spanned 30 years, teaching and coaching at B’Nai Shalom, Ballinger Academy and Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, then at the O’Neal School in Southern Pines.
His natural enthusiasm for teaching, supporting and mentoring young people made him so much more than “just a coach”. It spilled over into everything he did inspiring anyone, not just his students and players, to be the best that they could be. Don loved life, and his family meant more to him than anything. If you were blessed to be called his friend, he considered you family too.
He had a strong Christian faith and was a Youth Leader for many years at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro. When he and Ann moved to Pinebluff in 1997, they found their spiritual home at Bethesda Presbyterian in Aberdeen. As a resident of the Sandhills area, he also got to spend plenty of time honing his lifelong golf game and found a new passion in Pickleball, becoming an active member and leader in the Pickleball community. Over the last 25 years he was actively involved in the local Southern Pines Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #7318, serving as Quarter Master and holding multiple positions in the Military Order of the Cooties.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 53 years Ann Seawall Woodfield; his son Don, Jr. and wife Kim; his son Ed and wife Vonda; his daughter Marcia; and his daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Steve Eaton; his nine grandchildren, Kristy, Molly, Tasha, Nick, Jessica, Rex, Rose, Sierra, Olivia; his six great grandchildren, Loralai, Donovan, Cayla, Balin, Isabella, Addison; his two sisters Mary Woodfield and Joann Brown (Jack); and seven brothers, Tom, Jim (Lorraine), Dick (Shirley), Dave (Kim), Terry (Cindy), John (Janet), Dan (Ann); brother and sister-in-law Andy and Kay Yost; a multitude of adored nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog Peanut.
He is preceded in death by his parents Arlene and Spencer; his sisters Gen Mauro and Janet Johnson; his brothers Spence, Jr. and Mike.
A memorial service will be held at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 1002 N. Sandhills Blvd., Aberdeen, NC 28315 on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Reception will follow the memorial service in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate or First Health Hospice & Palliative Care https://www.firsthealth.org/foundation-of-firsthealth/make-a-donation
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
