CHS BALLADIERS

Paul N. Woods, M.Div

July 13 (Year Unknown) - February 9, 2013

Paul was a CHS Balladier 1970-72.

CHS Balladiers 1970-71

CHS Balladiers 1971-72

CHS Balladiers 1972

European Tour - Performance in Westminister Abbey, London England

2002 - 30 Year Reunion of the Balladier European Tour

We recorded at Greg Brayton's Studio

We enjoyed food and fellowship at the Voss Home - 2012

Paul and Trish - 2002

Paul shared that one of his most important accomplishments over the years was his family.

2012 - 40 Year Reunion of the Balladier European Tour

We performed at the Coldwater Reunion Music Festival on August 25.

Paul

Brenda

I was blessed to call Paul "friend" and look forward to our next reunion - which will be in Heaven

as we both share faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Prayers are with Trish, the children, grandchildren, extended family and the church families that Paul had an opportunity to serve.

The Lord bless you and keep you, Paul. We love you.

(Brenda Flickinger Kline)

OBITUARY

Rev. Paul Woods
Born on Jul. 13, 1954
Departed on Feb. 9, 2013 and resided in Sturgis, MI.

Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013
Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

Paul N. Woods, of Sturgis, MI, 58, died unexpectedly of a 24 hour rapidly progressing lung infection on February 9, 1:30 a.m. at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI.

The family will receive friends 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, and 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, February 13 at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 North M-66, Sturgis.

The service celebrating the life of Paul N. Woods will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, also at Sturgis Missionary Church. Rev. Chris Knight and Rev. Bob Renner will officiate. A dinner for friends and family will be offered following the memorial. Committal will take place at a later date.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331 is entrusted with the arrangements.

Paul was born on July 13, 1954, the son of Rev. Willis (Pete) and Evelyn (Holly) Woods. He married his high school sweetheart, and love of his life, Patricia (Hicks) Woods on June 8, 1974 in Coldwater, MI.

Paul was a graduate of Coldwater High School. He received his BA in Christian Education from Taylor University and went on to earn his M. Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. After his education, he went to Groveland Missionary Church as associate pastor in 1979. He went on to work for Christian publishing companies: David C. Cook, Group, and Zondervan. Following that, in 2002, he assumed a position at Sturgis Missionary Church as associate pastor. He was recently elected the North Central District Superintendent for the Missionary Church and was set to begin this position in July of 2013. Paul loved to fiddle with projects around the house, working on cars and anything else he could get his hands on. He was always willing to help others in any way he could, no matter the sacrifice. The one thing that he was most proud of was a family who serves the Lord with their whole hearts. His greatest passion was helping churches and leaders become what God would like them to be. Paul will live on through the lives of the many people he has touched. He was always seeking to reach people with the unchanging and life-changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

His family grieves deeply, but not as those without hope. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Woods; sons, Joshua (Christine) Woods (33) and Nathan Woods (27); daughter, Rachel Woods (25); grandchildren, Annalise Woods, Micah Woods, and Jacob Woods; sisters, Lois (Paul) Wise, Eunice (Norm) Hunsberger, and Ruth (Dave) Smith; brother, Jim (Judy) Woods; sisters-in-law, Peggy (Jim) Modert, Roxanne Hicks, and Dawn Hicks; special "daughter" Kristance Matthew and her children, Isaiah, Eleanor, and Jackson; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Paul is preceded in death by his mother and father, Rev. Willis (Pete) and Evelyn Woods; mother-in-law and father-in-law, William (Bill) and Hazel Hicks; brothers-in-law, Bruce and Terry Hicks.

A word from Paul, "As I've grown older and matured spiritually, the deepest lesson that I've learned is the incredible importance of God's Word in our lives. It's become a treasure to me, and what I look forward to every morning when I get up. God has been faithful and has guided my life so far, and I'm confident he will continue to do so." Oct. 2012

In lieu of flowers memorial donations would be appreciated to the Paul Woods Memorial Fund for future needs of his family or the Paul Woods Grandchildren Educational Trust Fund both funds in c/o: Century Bank and Trust, 320 W. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091.

On Saturday, August 25, 2012, a Reunion Music Festival took place in Coldwater, MI. - the first such event which featured Reunion CHS Balladier Choruses, CHS Reunion Band, and Reunion Sweet Adeline Chorus, as well as other ensembles and soloists.

It was a delight over the past year and a half to research and locate Balladiers from the past 50 years and develop a database for this event and for events in the future. It was a joy to correspond with so many over the months preceeding the event and to be the disseminator of information! Admittedly, I was tenacious in corresponding and seeking information about singers I was unable to locate. It "took a village" to fill in the blanks! Special thanks to those who responded to my inquiries!

On Thursday, August 23, the Balladiers gathered together at CHS to rehearse with Directors - Hoopingarner, Berg and Sly. Amy Frizzell Pierce came to the Friday rehearsal to fill in for her Dad, who sadly lost his battle to cancer a few weeks earlier on July 28.

Rehearsing "A LITTLE WHITE HEN" with Mr. David Sly

Rehearsing "SCARBOROUGH FAIR" with Mr. Arvid Berg

Rehearsing "59th STREET BRIDGE SONG" (Bridge Over Troubled Water) with the founding Director of the Balladiers, Mr. Doug Hoopingarner

Amy Frizzell Pierce directs "The Lutkin Benediction"

We had the opportunity to meet Mr.Tony Shapow, the newly hired Choral and Balladier Director. Below is a photo of Mr. Hoopingarner with Mr. Shapow.

Two other key players in our event:

Russ Gates volunteered to be our accompanist.

We were also accompanied by Balladier, Greg Brayton.

On Thursday evening, we gathered together at the Elks for a Musicfest Kick-Off Party with others involved in the event.

Pictured above is Mr. Doug Hoopingarner with Patsy Feller Meiser

Patsy was the Coordinator for the Music Fest.

This evening was an opportunity to gather together with special friends and aquaintances and to make new friends!

The Reunion MusicFest also presented opportunities to see family.

I am pictured above with my cousin, Kathy, also a former Balladier.

Kathy is then pictured with our cousin, David.

Proceeds from the MusicFest were divided between the Tibbits Opera House Restoration Project and the Irma English Music Scholarship.

The "Early 70's" Balladiers perform on one of the two outside Stages at the Musicfest.

They also performed a set on the inside Tibbits stage.

The 1961-2011 Balladiers Performed - Pictured Below

The 2012 Balladjers were introduced and presented two selections under the direction

of Mr. Shapow.

The weekend ended with some of the Balladiers performing at the Presbyterian Church in Coldwater, pictured below.

The MusicFest was a highlight of the Summer of 2012 for me. It was wonderful to return to my birthplace and the community where I grew up. It gave me a renewed sense of home.

“I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.” (Paul McCartney)

May God bless Coldwater, my hometown, and all those who helped to make the MusicFest a success.

To see the Balladier Slideshow and here my solo, FOR GOOD, dedicated to Mr. Guy "Skip" Frizzell, please see the link below:

BALLADIER MEMORIES