Woody Cecil Sowers, 100, widower of Doris Bernice (Dyer) Sowers of Overlook Road, Staunton, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 14, 2023 at his residence with his two daughters by his side.

Mr. Sowers was born in Riner, Virginia on December 29, 1922, a son of the late Willard Tazewell Sowers and Eula (Roop) Bell.

Woody was a faithful member and servant at Memorial Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps during WWII; trained as a navigator and bombardier. He loved the outdoors especially hunting and fishing with his grandsons and special friends. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of his life.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Sowers and a sister, Lucille Livingston.

Mr. Sowers is the last surviving member of his immediate family.

He is survived by two daughters, Rhonda Annette Sowers of Staunton and Melissa Anne (Sowers) Wilkins and her husband, Rodney "Buddy" Wilkins, III of Mt. Sidney; four grandchildren, John Wilkins, Chad Wilkins and his wife, Maggie, Kaitlin Fulk and her husband, Brandon, and Trey Wilkins and his wife, Kim; and seven great-grandchildren Vivian, Ainsley, Juliana, Jase, Ella, Miles, Ryder and one great-grandson on the way.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023 at Memorial Baptist Church by Pastors Todd Latham and Bill Smith.

The family will receive friends following the service in the Great Hall of the church.

A private burial will take place in Oaklawn Memory Gardens.

It is suggested those desiring make memorial contributions to the Memorial Baptist Church, 224 Taylor Street, Staunton, Virginia 24401 or the Augusta Health Foundation Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 1000, Fishersville, Virginia 22939.

The family wishes to express a sincere "Thank you" to all of Woody's friends, church family,  beloved relatives and caregivers for their care and love that was shown to him over the years.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.