John

John WoodallMr. John Meers Woodall, 81, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013. He was surrounded by his loving family when he peacefully took his last breath. John is survived by the great love of his life, Linda Woodall; and his adult children Mrs. Melissa Woodall Curtis, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Mr. Jay Woodall, of Atlanta, Ga., son-in-law Michael Curtis, and daughter-in-law Dawn Gonzales Woodall. He is also survived by his four adoring grandchildren (all of whom called him the special nickname of "Buddy"): Miss Katherine Curtis, Mr. Jack Curtis, Miss Isabella Rose Woodall, and Miss Madeleine Woodall. Other survivors include John's sister, Saundra Keef; nieces Cindy Brown and Karen Spivey; nephews Doug Brown, Chuck and David Keef,; and dear cousin Mozelle Payne.We are proud to celebrate the wonderful, happy life of this special gentleman. John graduated from the University of Chattanooga as a Lambda Chi Alpha with a B.S. in Economics. He served as President of the student body. After university, John served his country in the Army as a cryptographer in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1952, upon returning home John started a long and rewarding career in the Life Insurance industry. For the next 58 years he worked with the people of Chattanooga in the noble effort to protect their families and plan for their future. During those years he earned the professional designations of both CLU and ChFC., as well as many other awards and honors. John was a proud member of the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council and a Lifetime member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. Both of his children have followed him into the life insurance profession- with daughter Melissa Woodall Curtis running the Woodall Agency, now in its 61st year.John served several philanthropic organizations as well. None were more important to him than his lifelong affiliation with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Chattanooga (on whose board he served for several decades). In honor of this special organization, the family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation to either Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Chattanooga or to the St. Catherine's Shelter at St. Paul's.There will be a service honoring the life of John Woodall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Chattanooga, 305 W. 7th Street, on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The visitation will start at 1 p.m., the service commencing at 2 p.m. It will be officiated by the Rev. Suzanne Smitherman and the Rev. Honorable Sam Payne.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family.Limited weekday parking is available in the back of the church, nearby streets, and commercial lots. Please do not park in the numbered spaces in the lot beside the church. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Services 7454 E. Brainerd Rd.