Bill Woodruff

Longtime Sedona resident, Bill Woodruff died at his home in Wickenburg, AZ surrounded by his immediate family. Born in Detroit, Michigan July 9, 1930, grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming and Tucson, Arizona, attending Arizona School for Boys and elementary and high school in Sheridan. Joined the Air Force in 1950 and was stationed in England for 4 years in the communications division, this gave him extra time to travel the country and visit France, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Germany. He was discharged from the service in 1954 and met a cute little nurse name Kate who became his lifelong mate. After being discharged they both went back to college and he completed his Anesthesia degree and lived in Utah, S. Dakota, Minnesota, Washington and Montana usually running the anesthesia departments in smaller areas. The couple along with their two daughters moved to Sedona in 1965 and he owned and operated Buffalo Bronze Works doing many beautiful award winning bronzes for well known artists. Bill had many interests, he loved to fly and owned his own plane, he and Kate were very much involved in buying and selling art and also leather crafting, they hosted a dinner every year in Wickenburg for the annual Leathercrafters show. He was also an avid roper and did some team roping at Ed Wright's arena on Dry Creek Road. Both he and Kate love Mexico and have a casita in Alamos in the state of Sonora where they spend several months during the year. A daughter Kelly preceded Bill in death. He is survived by his wife, Kate of 56 years and a daughter Stacie Hubbard and husband Tim of Evans, CO. Four grandchildren, Sean Short of Hawaii, Kyle Short of Greeley, CO., Melissa Carpenter of Pace, Florida, Michael Bjoraker of Bonners Ferry, Idaho and two great-grandchildren, Lily and Nolan of Pace, Florida and a sister Natalie von Braun of Phoenix. Services will be held on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Wickenburg Funeral Home with interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers please contribute to the American Heart Association of the Foundation for Emphysema.