Calvin Parker Woodruff

Calvin Parker Woodruff passed away on Thursday, January 23. 2020. at age 90 having been a resident of The Fountains at The Albemarle in Tarboro, NC for several years.

Visitation will be on Sunday, January 26, at Carlisle Funeral Home from 1:30-2:30 PM followed by a service at 2:30 with Pastor Jordon Willard officiating. He will be entombed at the Edgecombe Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Calvin was born May 3, 1929, in Greensville County, VA in the farming community of Barley about 13 miles south of Emporia, VA and about 1.5 miles north of the VA/NC state line. Calvin was born in the home of his mother’s brother, Hubert Ray “Jack” Moore, where his parents were living at the time.

He is the son of Walter Parker “Bubba” and Annie Mae Moore Woodruff. His fraternal grandparents are Albert Parker and Laura Ellen Campbell Woodruff. His maternal grandparents are Julius Emmett and Melissa Davis “Lissy” Blalock Moore.

He attended Brink Elementary and Greensville County High School of Emporia, VA. As was common at the time, he left school early to learn a trade and trained at the National School of Meat Cutting of Toledo, OH. Around this time Calvin learned to play the guitar and mandolin while forming “The Barley Boys”, a country band that performed at many local dances.

He went to work with the A&P grocery store in nearby Roanoke Rapids, NC before being drafted. From 1950-52, he served in the Second Army, 102nd Infantry Regiment, Company G, where he attained the rank of Technical Sargent. His basic training was at Camp Pickett, Blacksburg, VA. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany and Fort Knox, KY. Before his discharge from Fort Meade, MD, Calvin married Alice Maria Barnes of Gaston, NC.

Calvin returned to work at the A&P in Roanoke Rapids. In 1956, the couple and their three children were transferred to Tarboro, NC where they lived comfortably yet modestly. Calvin continued working for A&P for 35 years and Alice opened her own hair salon and later worked for Carolina Tel and Tel (eventually becoming Sprint Corporation). There were frequent family vacations and he was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts. Other pursuits of his included gardening and photography, and he became an avid fisherman. Calvin developed an interest in woodworking and became adept at building outdoor furniture such as swings and Adirondack chairs, wooden clocks, and won first place in a state-wide woodworking competition among seniors.

He was an active member of the Trinity Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher and was ordained as Deacon in 1975. After retirement, he achieved his life-long dream of running a restaurant and, from 1985-1992, owned and operated the C&G Barbecue and Seafood Restaurant with members of his family. During retirement, you could frequently find him at the E. L. Roberson Center socializing and participating in the Edgecombe County Senior Games. He was a member for the Tarboro Golden K Club where he served as its President and frequently volunteered with Kiwanis Special Olympics.

Calvin and Alice were married for 67 years before her passing on March 21, 2018. He is survived by his sister, Christine Smith, and his children including Mike Woodruff, Jeffery and Carol Woodruff, and Kay and George Whitehurst. Grandchildren include Allison and Robert DeSantis, Jim Woodruff, Patrick and Morgan Whitehurst, Morgan and Joey Edmundson, Paige and Michael King, and Barrett Woodruff. Great-grandchildren include Zackery and Nathan Ellis, Jacob Bass, and Jonathan and Caroline Whitehurst. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Trinity Baptist Church, 730 W Wilson St, Tarboro, NC 27886.

Arrangements are by Carlisle Funeral Home, Inc., of Tarboro. Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.carlislefuneralhome.com.

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