The Rev. Marion Franklin Woods, 97, formerly of Salina and Bird City, Kan., died Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Costa Rica.
He was born Nov. 15, 1918, to Albert Edward and Helen Rachel (Pardee) Woods in Eskridge, Kan. He had three sisters and seven brothers.
He was preceded in death by first wife, Marjory Koken, and second wife, Fannie May Richards; six brothers; and three sisters.
Marion graduated from Bird City High School in 1936 and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, in 1940. From 1940-43, he served as pastor of Grand Avenue Methodist Church, Salina. He attended Drew University.
Marion enlisted in the Army on Aug. 28, 1944, and by February 1945, he was on his way overseas with the 96th Field Hospital Unit. He was the first ground force chaplain to enter Shanghai, China, in mid-September following VJ-Day, and became a U.S. Army chaplain for the duration. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism beyond the call of duty, when with another chaplain, on Dec. 18, 1945, they rushed to the burning cockpit of a P-38 aircraft that crashed at Shanghai Airfield, cut the victim’s safety belt, and removed the injured and unconscious pilot to safety.
In 1950, they commissioned to be missionaries in Costa Rica. It became home to him, ministering to the people there. With the help of the people, teachers, work teams and mission support, over 100 churches and congregations have been established there.
Marion was married to Fannie May Richards, of Abilene, from May 17, 1964, to Aug. 6, 1986, when she passed away.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 26, at the Methodist Center in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Interment will follow in the Cementerio de Extranjeros Costa Rica.
Memorials can be sent to Costa Rica Methodist Mission Projects, in care of The Bank of Northwest Kansas, Bird City.
Published on salina.com edition 4-23-2016.
He was born Nov. 15, 1918, to Albert Edward and Helen Rachel (Pardee) Woods in Eskridge, Kan. He had three sisters and seven brothers.
He was preceded in death by first wife, Marjory Koken, and second wife, Fannie May Richards; six brothers; and three sisters.
Marion graduated from Bird City High School in 1936 and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, in 1940. From 1940-43, he served as pastor of Grand Avenue Methodist Church, Salina. He attended Drew University.
Marion enlisted in the Army on Aug. 28, 1944, and by February 1945, he was on his way overseas with the 96th Field Hospital Unit. He was the first ground force chaplain to enter Shanghai, China, in mid-September following VJ-Day, and became a U.S. Army chaplain for the duration. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism beyond the call of duty, when with another chaplain, on Dec. 18, 1945, they rushed to the burning cockpit of a P-38 aircraft that crashed at Shanghai Airfield, cut the victim’s safety belt, and removed the injured and unconscious pilot to safety.
In 1950, they commissioned to be missionaries in Costa Rica. It became home to him, ministering to the people there. With the help of the people, teachers, work teams and mission support, over 100 churches and congregations have been established there.
Marion was married to Fannie May Richards, of Abilene, from May 17, 1964, to Aug. 6, 1986, when she passed away.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 26, at the Methodist Center in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Interment will follow in the Cementerio de Extranjeros Costa Rica.
Memorials can be sent to Costa Rica Methodist Mission Projects, in care of The Bank of Northwest Kansas, Bird City.
Published on salina.com edition 4-23-2016.
The Rev. Marion Franklin Woods, 97, formerly of Salina and Bird City, Kan., died Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Costa Rica.
He was born Nov. 15, 1918, to Albert Edward and Helen Rachel (Pardee) Woods in Eskridge, Kan. He had three sisters and seven brothers.
He was preceded in death by first wife, Marjory Koken, and second wife, Fannie May Richards; six brothers; and three sisters.
Marion graduated from Bird City High School in 1936 and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, in 1940. From 1940-43, he served as pastor of Grand Avenue Methodist Church, Salina. He attended Drew University.
Marion enlisted in the Army on Aug. 28, 1944, and by February 1945, he was on his way overseas with the 96th Field Hospital Unit. He was the first ground force chaplain to enter Shanghai, China, in mid-September following VJ-Day, and became a U.S. Army chaplain for the duration. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism beyond the call of duty, when with another chaplain, on Dec. 18, 1945, they rushed to the burning cockpit of a P-38 aircraft that crashed at Shanghai Airfield, cut the victim’s safety belt, and removed the injured and unconscious pilot to safety.
In 1950, they commissioned to be missionaries in Costa Rica. It became home to him, ministering to the people there. With the help of the people, teachers, work teams and mission support, over 100 churches and congregations have been established there.
Marion was married to Fannie May Richards, of Abilene, from May 17, 1964, to Aug. 6, 1986, when she passed away.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 26, at the Methodist Center in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Interment will follow in the Cementerio de Extranjeros Costa Rica.
Memorials can be sent to Costa Rica Methodist Mission Projects, in care of The Bank of Northwest Kansas, Bird City.
Published on salina.com edition 4-23-2016.
He was born Nov. 15, 1918, to Albert Edward and Helen Rachel (Pardee) Woods in Eskridge, Kan. He had three sisters and seven brothers.
He was preceded in death by first wife, Marjory Koken, and second wife, Fannie May Richards; six brothers; and three sisters.
Marion graduated from Bird City High School in 1936 and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, in 1940. From 1940-43, he served as pastor of Grand Avenue Methodist Church, Salina. He attended Drew University.
Marion enlisted in the Army on Aug. 28, 1944, and by February 1945, he was on his way overseas with the 96th Field Hospital Unit. He was the first ground force chaplain to enter Shanghai, China, in mid-September following VJ-Day, and became a U.S. Army chaplain for the duration. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism beyond the call of duty, when with another chaplain, on Dec. 18, 1945, they rushed to the burning cockpit of a P-38 aircraft that crashed at Shanghai Airfield, cut the victim’s safety belt, and removed the injured and unconscious pilot to safety.
In 1950, they commissioned to be missionaries in Costa Rica. It became home to him, ministering to the people there. With the help of the people, teachers, work teams and mission support, over 100 churches and congregations have been established there.
Marion was married to Fannie May Richards, of Abilene, from May 17, 1964, to Aug. 6, 1986, when she passed away.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 26, at the Methodist Center in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Interment will follow in the Cementerio de Extranjeros Costa Rica.
Memorials can be sent to Costa Rica Methodist Mission Projects, in care of The Bank of Northwest Kansas, Bird City.
Published on salina.com edition 4-23-2016.
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