William Blair Woodring

William Blair Woodring passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2017 of complications due to a heart attack.  He was the eldest son of Helen and Blair Woodring of Reynoldsville, PA.  Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the US Air Force.  His service years were spent in the Burma China theatre serving as a radio control operator in the air and ground.  Upon receiving his bronze star and honorable discharge, he returned home and enrolled at Penn State University, where he received his degree in engineering.  While travelling on business, he met his future wife Mary Jett Dimlich in Cleveland Heights, OH.  They were married in August of 1958.  He then furthered his education at Case Institute of Technology where he received his Masters Degree in Engineering Administration.  His first child William Blair II was born in Cleveland in 1960.  Soon after, he moved to the Pittsburgh area, and over the next nine years, Karl Dimlich and John Stewart were born.  His career evolved into the burgeoning field of healthcare, which brought the family to East Aurora, NY, for four years.  He began to work as a hospital consultant within the greater Buffalo area.  New England beckoned his employment as a member of the first management team associated with The University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.  Bill arrived as the Director of Systems Engineering.  His career continued at the University of Connecticut Medical School until his retirement.  Forty years of living as a New Englander, Bill participated in many activities, which entailed spending time with family, scouting, gardening, reading, Masonic membership, volunteer trail maintenance for the AMC mountain club and singing barber shop music with the Worcester Men of Song and the Sound Assembly Chorus of Natick.   He also was a member of the Wesley Methodist Church Choir, the Master Singers of Worcester, Assabet Valley Mastersingers, and the Salisbury Singers.  Bill always thrived on learning about people, places and new ideas that the world had to offer.  His migration from a small rural community to the New England area developed his appreciation for life and learning.  Bill was a good man in every sense of the word and will be missed greatly.  He leaves behind his loving wife, Mary Jett, his three sons and their wives along with six grandchildren.  A funeral service will be held August 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Wesley United Methodist Church on Main Street in Worcester, MA.   In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church at 114 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608