Obituary of Joseph L Wooden
WOODEN: Joseph L. Wooden, formerly of Grand Bend and Exeter, died on January 10, 2025 in his 93rd year at Strathmere Lodge in Strathroy, ON. Joe is survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda (Holden) Girard, of St. Thomas, and four children and their spouses: Susan Drennan of Ashfield Township and the late Allan Drennan (2020), Deb and Stu Homuth of Exeter, Catherine Wooden and Dave Cameron of Strathroy, and John Wooden and Tracey Peacock of Prince Edward County. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, Sara Martin (Brent), Amanda Shortreed (Ben), Luke Drennan, Zakary Homuth (Katherine), Mitchel Homuth (Ashley), Clinton Homuth (Alanna), Jacob Homuth, Grayson Homuth (Katie), and Denver Homuth, as well as his 12 great-grandchildren, Louise and Laird Martin, Emmy and Mia Shortreed, Kolby and Kade Drennan, Hunter, Levi, and Colton Homuth, Harlan and Gibson Homuth, and Fynn Homuth. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Diane (Wallace) Knoop.
Joe was born on November 11, 1932, in Paris, Ontario, to the late Ernest and Lily (Lane) Wooden. He was predeceased by his beloved younger brother, Dan, in 2011.
In high school Joe played baseball and hockey and belonged to the wrestling team. The scholarships he won enabled him to attend the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with a degree in Geography and was a varsity wrestler. He joined the teaching staff of South Huron District High School in Exeter in 1955, where he became principal in 1967, a position he held until 1983, when he became principal of Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. Joe returned to SHDHS as principal in 1989, where he remained until his retirement in 1993.
During his years in Exeter, Joe contributed to the community as a teacher, school administrator, a member of the town council and the planning board and as a baseball player and coach. In 1973 he published A History of Exeter, Ontario, as part of the town’s centennial celebration. This was preceded by another well-regarded work of local history, A Drum to Beat Upon, the story of St. Joseph, Ontario, published in 1971 which led to the designation of the historical plaque in St. Joseph. He was a board director for the Blyth Festival Theatre, Huron Country Playhouse, and St. Joseph & Area Historical Society for many years.
Always an avid student of history and literature, Joe earned his Master’s in English from UWO after he retired. In addition to reading the many books he often had on the go, he enjoyed attending the theater in Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake, often seeing the entire season at Stratford especially. He loved gardening, biking, playing cards, and of course following his beloved Detroit Tigers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Joe was a long-time congregant, board member, warden of Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church in Exeter and St. John’s-by-the-Lake in Grand Bend and often was the delegate to the Anglican Church Synod. Joe was the recipient of The Governor General’s Jubilee Medallion in 2013 for his significant service to his community and country. Above all he loved spending time with his family and friends.
A visitation will be held from 11:00am to 12:30pm, on Saturday, January 25th at Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church, in Exeter, ON followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. Cremation and burial of ashes at a later date in Exeter Cemetery, arranged by T. Harry Hoffman and Sons Funeral Home, Dashwood.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation Ways to give | Heart and Stroke Foundation and Mission Services of London In Memoriam / Tribute Gifts | Mission Services of London.
