James E. Woods

James Edward ""Ed"" Woods, age 81, of Tuscaloosa, a native of Hood River, Oregon, and resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 1969, passed away July 8, 2016, after a brief illness. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 15, 2016, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tuscaloosa with Father Michael Deering officiating and Norwood-Wyatt Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Edward and Marguerite Sandman Woods. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Watson Woods; sons, Scott Edward Woods (Lisa) of Atlanta, Georgia and Douglas Richard Woods (Jill) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; grandchildren Turner Elizabeth Woods, Caitlyn James Woods, James Edward (Jay) Woods II, Nicholas Scott Woods, Sarah Corbett Woods and John Douglas (Jack) Woods; sister, Susan Hofmann; and host of other relatives. Ed grew up in Denver, Colorado where he attended East High School and met the love of his life, Sharon Watson. Sharon and Ed were married in the fall of 1956 and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 5th of this year. Ed went on to attend the University of Colorado and joined Chi Psi fraternity, where he served as President. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing in 1956. He served in the United States Naval Air Force until 1958 when he joined Weyerhauser Company and established a career in the packaging industry. In 1969, he joined Gulf States Paper Corporation and served in a series of executive roles until 1993, when he became the first non-family member in the private organization's history to be named president and chief operating officer. He retired from Gulf States Paper Corporation as chief executive officer on November 1. Ed was dedicated to both industry and community, serving as chairman for the Paperboard Packaging Council, and as member of the board of directors for: the American Forest & Paper Association; Mercedes Benz U.S. International, Inc.; and AmSouth Bank. He was a member of the President's Cabinet at the University of Alabama, and served on executive committees for the University of West Alabama and Tuscaloosa County's Challenge 21. In October, 2000, a month prior to his retirement, he received the Robert Gair Award from the Paperboard Packaging Council, the group's highest award for lifetime service to the industry. Ed was an avid golfer and played an instrumental role in the development of North River Golf Club. He and Sharon were also founding members of the Cullasaja Club in Highlands, N.C. where they spent most of their time in recent years. Ed was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren. Ed and Sharon traveled extensively after his retirement and enjoyed visiting locations in Europe, Africa, New Zealand, North and South America. The Woods family would like to acknowledge the exceptional care that Ed received from Dr. Gorman Jones at Camellia Medical Group and the staff at UAB Hospital's MICU and Palliative Care Units. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The Muscular Dystrophy Association or the Arts and Autism Program of Tuscaloosa in honor of Tuscaloosa Fire Station #10.