Obituary

Elwood "Woody" Clark
July 11, 1923--June 1, 2023 (age 99)

Elwood M. "Woody" Clark, 99, longtime resident of Pendleton, Oregon, went peacefully to Heaven on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Suttle Care & Retirement in Pendleton, with family and friends by his side.

It was July 11, 1923, in Hood River, Oregon, when Elwood Clark was born to Ralph and Arlene Clark. At five years old and diagnosed with pneumonia, Elwood (now Woody) became very ill and almost died, but God answered his father’s prayer and healed him. He was raised on a five-acre farm and a strong work ethic was instilled in him from a very young age. Growing up with his two older brothers Pete and John, they called him “Woody” since that was easier to pronounce. At fourteen, Woody left home to go to work on ranches and at seventeen, he was working two shifts.

At twenty-four and driving his own log truck, Woody met a beautiful girl named Julie in John Day, Oregon, and they were married in September of 1948. Their first son, Eddy, was born in 1949 and their first daughter, Linda, was born in 1950. In 1954, they moved to Pendleton with an old log truck. They rented an upstairs apartment in an old barracks building at the airport. Working seven days a week, they were always poor. But in 1955, they started going to church on Sunday and that’s when the financial blessings began. In 1956, they purchased their first home. From 1958 to 1966, they had six more children: Mary, John, Julie, Dan, Monica, and Vicky. Woody went to work for International Harvester selling new trucks and became a successful traveling salesman.

In 1960, Woody decided to go into business for himself when he started Woodpecker Truck & Equipment as the International truck dealer in Pendleton. In 1963, a new family home was built on the outskirts of town on Highway 11 near Mt. Hebron. A few years later, Woody added a Cessna airplane dealership and charter service called Woodpecker Field. In 1967, Woody and Julie bought a cabin at Tollgate where they enjoyed year-round mountain activities with their children. Also in 1967, Woody added a Ski-Doo snowmobile franchise and became the distributor for the entire northwest, Woody’s Dist. Corp. By 1968, the truck sales and service business had grown so much that a new 40-acre facility was built four miles west of Pendleton on the new interstate. In the early 1970s, Woody purchased the old cannery building in Pendleton which became home to Pendleton Sport Center, a motorsports dealership including all kinds of outdoor sporting equipment. Woody eventually sold the Sport Center, as his passion was trucks.

Woody’s kids, Eddy, Linda, Mary, John and Dan worked in the truck business. Eddy worked in the parts department, transported trucks, and was the company’s airplane pilot. Linda worked in the front office and AP. Mary worked in the front office and the parts department. John worked in the paint shop, parts department, and bookkeeping. Dan worked in the service and sales departments, and in marketing. Woody’s grandkids, Rick and Julie, continue to work in the truck business. Rick works in the service department and Julie in the front office. Woody’s nieces, Landra, Barb and Marilyn, also worked in the truck business for a period of time. In 1987, the Western Star truck franchise was added along with a branch in Troutdale, Oregon, and a branch added in Yakima, Washington in 1989. In 2007, Woody sold his successful branch locations in Troutdale and Yakima, and in 2022, the Pendleton dealership was sold.

Woody was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International. He was on the Board of Advisors for Gospel Crusade in Bradenton, Florida, and the Association of Christian Truckers in Brownstown, Illinois. Woody is the author of two books: “Don’t Blame Me I Didn’t Do It, God Did” and “Prosperity God’s Way”. Woody was a great man of God who touched many people for Christ. Woody was a man of integrity, his word was his bond and he meant what he said. He was a motivator and a positive influence. He told everyone he came into contact with about his personal experience and relationship with his Savior Jesus Christ; he sincerely wanted them to have the joy that he had.

Woody also had many personal friends throughout his life. He enjoyed playing cards and board games, and if you ever played Gin Rummy with him, you would find out he was really hard to beat because he was a master poker face player and could usually tell what cards you were holding. He was also a very quick thinker and you had to really work at it to keep up with him. He had an amazing memory that could tell you what the truck specs were on almost every truck he sold, and who he sold it to. He enjoyed attending truck auctions and basically set the industry standard that other dealers admired. He was bold in almost everything that he did and wasn’t afraid to take risks.

Woody was previously well known as the “Wild Woodpecker”, racing everything that moved, until eventually he lost his driver’s license and started flying airplanes. At fifty-two, Woody rededicated his life to God and was miraculously healed from alcohol and tobacco addictions with no withdrawals. In 2010, Woodpecker Truck & Equipment celebrated 50 years in business with an open house and customer appreciation day. The truck dealership was Woody’s passion, as he continued to work at it and refused to retire until 2020 when he was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent two surgeries and eventually decided not to have any more. Still doing considerably well, he celebrated his ninety-ninth birthday at home surrounded by family and friends. He made it just forty days shy of one hundred years when his Heavenly Father called him home to Paradise and his eternal reward.

Woody is survived by his children Eddy Clark of Pendleton, OR; Mary (Steve) Gaynor of Cave Junction, OR; John (Jackie) Clark of Dayton, WY; Julie (Brent) Shepherd of Sammamish, WA; Dan (Toni) Clark of Kennewick, WA; Monica (Frances) Mercy of Barvaux, Belgium; and Vicky Clark-Schmidt of Pendleton, OR; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Arlene Clark, brother Pete Clark, brother John Clark, former wife Julie Clark, daughter Linda Clark, and grandson Joel Clark.

A viewing will be held for the public on Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Burns Mortuary in Pendleton, Oregon. There will be a private, family only graveside burial at Olney Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held for the public on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Living Word Christian Center, 401 Northgate, Pendleton, Oregon.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Ashlee Dacus, Dr. Anton, and Suttle Care & Retirement for their wonderful and compassionate care of Woody.