Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Cecil, 91, died Sept. 24, 2008 in San Diego. Woody was born Jan. 24, 1917 in Durham, Okla., to William Burley Cecil (born in Pulaski, Va.) and Luella Wylie Cecil (born in Dallas County, Texas).

Woody graduated from Durham High School in 1935. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1938. During his 20 years in the Navy, he served aboard: USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Neville (APA-9), USS Alchiba (AK-23/AKA-6), ABSD-2 (Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock), USS Valve (ARS-28), USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116). In November 1942 while aboard the USS Alchiba, the ship was hit and damaged by Japanese torpedoes in Guadalcanal.

In addition to his sea duty tours, Woody served as a Navy recruiter at Lexington, Ky. After transferring to the Seabees (Navy Construction Battalion), he served in the 103rd Mobile Construction Battalion on Guam, as the maintenance officer at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., and as the field superintendent for the construction of 1,700 replacement housing units on Guam. Woody’s final naval tour was as maintenance officer at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He retired from the Navy in 1958 as a chief warrant officer, CWO-2, CEC.

After retiring, Woody partnered with George Dickson to build the first drive-in theater on Whidbey Island, The Blue Fox. Woody and Charlotte ran the theater for more than 20 years.

Woody has been a Master Mason since 1964. He was a member of Whidbey Island Number 15, F.&A.M.

Woody was preceded in death by his beloved wife Charlotte, his parents, two sisters, four brothers, three nieces and a nephew. He is survived by two nephews, seven nieces, and Charlotte’s three grandchildren. No services are planned. After cremation, a burial at sea is planned.