R. F. WOODS TAKEN BY DEATH

Funeral services for Riley F. Woods, 75, who passed away at his home early Thursday morning, were held at 2:00 Saturday  afternoon in the Parent Chapel. Rev. Hollis Wharton of the Walnut Methodist Church, former pastor of the Tampico Church, brought the message of comfort, bringing out four points: God's nearnes, that God knows what he is doing, that God is at work and God is good. He was assisted by Rev. Howard M. Swaney pastor of the Tampico Methodist Church, who read the 121st and 23rd Psalms and selected verses of scripture from the 14th chapter of John.

Recordings of "Abide With Me" and "The Lord's Prayer" were used preceding and at the close of the service.

Mrs. Fred Scott, Mrs. A. A. Yarde, Jr., and J. E. Cain were in charge of the many beautiful flowers.

Burdette Woods of Sterling, Herbert Ackerson, Vernon Denison, A. A. Yarde, Jr., Paul Wetzell and Alfred McCaslin, all members of Yorktonw Lodge AF & AM, served as pallbearers.

Interment was in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery where the Masonic rites were held with Albert Gifrow, district deputy grand master  of the Illinois Masonic Lodge reading the burial ceremony and Rev. Hollis Wharton serving as chaplain.

Members of the Masons and Eastern Star attended the services in a body.

Relatives and friends from St. Paul, Minn.; Zanesville, Ohio; LaMoille, Sterling, Mendota, Princeton, Prophetstown and Walnut attended the services.

R. F. Woods was born at  LaMoille, July 26, 1879, son of John R. and Harriet Fassett Woods. He received his education in LaMoille and at the University of Illinois  where he was a charter member Sigma Rho Chapter Beta Theta Pi.

He was married May 2, 1905 to Esther Stacy at LaMoille. They have spent the last 47 years of their married life in Tampico, where he took an active part in civic affairs of the community.  He founded the First National Bank of Tampico and served as its cashier  until it was consolidated with the Tampico State Bank in 1932. He had also served as the director of the First National Bank of Mendota.

He had been mayor of Tampico and for many years was president of the High School Board of Educaton. He was a 50-year Mason and was a past Master of Yorktown Lodge AF&AM. He was a past patron of Morning Star chapter OES, a charter member of Palestine chapter of the White Shrine and a member of the Knights Templar, Royal Arch Masons and Mystic Shrine. He was a member of the Baptist church of LaMoille.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, John of Sterling and Stacy of Zanesville, Ohio; one daughter, Helen of Tampico; one sister, Mrs. G. W. Muhleman of St. Paul, Minn.; five granddaughters; and three great grandsons.

**********************************************

[Submitted by Melva L. Taylor]

The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois

June 9, 1955 - Thursday, pg 2

R.  F.  WOODS

R. F. Woods, Tampico Banker, Civic Leader, Dies Thursday At Home

Tampico: - R. F. Woods, 75, banker and leader of civic affairs in Tampico for many years died at 4:10 a.m. Thursday in his home. He had been ill two and one-half years. The body was removed to the Parent Funeral Home where friends may call after 9 a.m. Friday.

Funeral services will be held at the Parent Funeral Home Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Hollis Wharton, Walnut, and the Rev. Stockton Swaney, Tampico Methodist Church, officiating.

Mr. Woods was born July 26, 1879 at La Moille, a son of John R. and Harriet Woods.  He was educated in the La Moille School and the University of Illinois.  He lived in Tampico for the past 47 years where he served as president of the bank.  He was married May 2, 1905 to Esther Stacy at La Moille.  He was very active in civic affairs serving as mayor, and president of the high school board.  He was a member of Yorktown Masonic Lodge 655 and the Baptist Church of La Moille.  He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, past master of Yorktown Lodge, Past Patron of OES, charter member of Palestine Chapter White Shrine, and a member of Knights Templar, Royal Arch Masons and Mystic Shrine.

He is survived by his wife, Esther, two sons, John, Sterling, Stacy, Janesville, Wis., and one daughter, Helen, at home; one sister, Mrs. G. W. Nuhleman, St. Paul, Minn.; five granddaughters and three great grandsons.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mrs. Mabel Hewitt.

(Buried Tampico Memorial Cemetery)