Terrence Patrick Woods

Terry Woods, 81, our Dad, died peacefully Friday morning, July 25, 2025 after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family and friends and his devoted wife, our Mom, Linda, who never left his side.

On June 11, 1944, Terrence Patrick Woods was born at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia to his doting mother, Helen (Tucker) Woods, and his father, Don Woods. Eventually named Captain of the U.S.S. LST 464, Don Woods was unable to return to the family home in Rochester, NY until late 1945, marking the first of many personal sacrifices Terry would make for his country.

After moving to Phoenix with his family in September 1953, Terry attended St. Mary’s and St. Francis elementary schools and was an eager altar server known to show up on his bicycle to serve more than one mass in a row. He graduated from Brophy, where he was the student body president while also lettering in football, basketball, and baseball, participating in speech and debate, and landing a role in all the school plays. After some time in the seminary, Terry’s heart called him to a future as a husband and father, and we are blessed to be the family his decision to leave the Jesuits at Sacred Heart Novitiate led to. Terry continued his education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Greek Roman classics from the University of Arizona in 1966 surrounded by his lifelong best friends from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. In 1973, he received his Juris Doctor degree from Arizona State University, graduating cum laude.

Terry was admitted to the Arizona bar in 1973 and was a founding partner of the law firm currently known as Broening Oberg Woods & Wilson, which opened its doors in downtown Phoenix in 1978. During his 52-year legal career, Terry was a successful civil litigator who worked hard for his clients and was dedicated to building a law firm that, per his words, was a nice place to come to work. Terry was excellent at oral advocacy, and his knowledge of the law was unparalleled. Terry truly loved being a lawyer and being a part of the Arizona legal community. The Honorable Terrence Woods also served as Judge of the Arizona Court of Military Appeals from 1997-2013. Terry received many awards and recognitions during his career, including a prestigious nomination to the Maricopa County Bar Hall of Fame in 2021. An integral part of the Broening Oberg Woods & Wilson law firm for the past 42 years, Terry was a voice of reason in uncertainty and was confident that any problem could be solved. His guidance will be missed by the firm and by his colleagues, who were also his long-time friends.

A patriot and air officer to his core, Terry retired at the rank of Brigadier General. He was Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Arizona Air National Guard on July 9, 1966 as a navigator. His duty positions and assignments included navigator, instructor, flight examiner navigator, and senior navigator with the 197th Air Refueling Squadron, Phx, AZ. After accumulating 2,945 flying hours and concluding flight status, he was assigned as the staff judge advocate with the 161st Combat Support Squadron, Phx, AZ, and subsequently transferred to Headquarters, Arizona Air National Guard, as the state judge advocate. General Woods’ final assignment was assistant adjutant general for Air, Arizona Air National Guard.

Born into a sports family, Terry spent much of his life competing or in the stands. The majority of those hours were spent on the baseball field. When his father founded the St. Francis Little League, Terry played in the inaugural game. He played at Brophy and caught a year at Saint Mary’s College. Terry’s coaching began with his sons through Camelback Little League. He went on to coach several Brophy summer teams before being hired as the head JV coach. Coach Woods then helped revive the Bourgade Catholic baseball program, winning a State Championship in 2010. His coaching career continued at Sunnyslope High School, where he was on the field as recently as June looking forward to next season. Papa Woods, as his players knew him, was beloved by high school players over the last 22 seasons. When not cheering for his children, his grandchildren, or his players on the baseball field, Terry could be found in his season ticket holder seats cheering for the Arizona Wildcats, the Phoenix Suns, or the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nothing mattered to Terry more than his faith and his family. Dad met Mom on December 21, 1970, and they were married on April 23, 1971. Theirs was love at first sight, and their 54-year marriage exemplary. Seeing all of his kids through Catholic elementary and high schools was a priority, and Dad led by example as an active parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle, serving as a lector, Eucharistic minister, and a member of the Serra Club. Of all that Dad was able to accomplish in life, he was most proud of his four “wonderful children,” our partners whom he immediately called his own, the families we’ve established, and the relationships we all have with God.

Terry, a family man, a man of integrity, a man for others, and a true gentleman, was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Lynn, his brothers, Don and Dick, and his nephew, John. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Linda, his youngest brother, Tommy (Debbie), as well as his brother Dick’s wife, Sharon. He is also survived by his cherished children Katie (Rick) Peterson, Tim (Bianca) Woods, Kevin (Randi) Woods, and Mike (Vanessa) Woods. His treasured grandchildren are Jack Peterson (21), Dylan Woods (20), Fred Peterson (18), Jake Woods (17), Hugh Peterson (17), Henry Woods (15), Peter Woods (14), Lucy D’Andrea (13), Meg Peterson (12), Daniel Woods (10), Mikayla Woods (5), Eva Woods (3), and Nathan Woods (11 mos) along with numerous godchildren, nieces, and nephews who will greatly miss their Nino and Uncle T.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects during the Visitation that will be held at the Woods Residence on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm. Funeral Mass will take place at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix, on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 9:30am. Burial will follow at 12:00pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Thunderbirds Charities, https://thunderbirdscharities.org/donate/ .