Melville "Mel" E. Woodman

MELVILLE ERNEST WOODMAN

APRIL 30, 1938 - APRIL 13, 2025

Mel Woodman was born on April 30, 1938 to Paul M. and Gertrude (Harmon) Woodman in Biddeford, ME. He went to school in Biddeford and Saco, graduating from Thornton Academy. Mel served in the U.S. Navy after graduating and upon being honorably discharged, he decided to further his education at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago. After graduating from DeVry, he went to California working in the Aero Space Industry.

Mel returned home to Saco in 1963, meeting his wife Janet (Betcher), who was working as a Christian Education Director in his home church. They moved to Malden, MA where their first child, Heather, was born. Two years later they purchased their home in Newburyport, where their son, Stephen, was born. Mel loved laughing and joking, everyone would know he was around, for his laughter was contagious. Many weekends were spent at Fortunes Rocks, Biddeford, Maine where his parents owned a home on the ocean. A surprise came to Mel when his dad presented his children with a book titled WOODMAN, that someone had found in a book store. The book chronicles the history of the Woodman family from Buxton, ME back to 1635 when Edward Woodman arrived in Newbury, MA.

Mel and Janet loved driving, taking off on an afternoon with either their children or friends with no particular destination in mind. Traveling and experiencing the world was always part of their lives passing it on to their children and grandchildren. They traveled to all but five states, a large portion of the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Mel’s working career included Lawson Manufacturing in Peabody until they moved from the area, then New England Telephone Company retiring from NYNEX at age 56. He went back to “work”, because of his love for driving. He decided to get to drive a school bus taking students to various outings, sports events and the Council on Aging until Janet retired.

Mel served many boards and committees as a member at Belleville Congregational Church. He was a Mason, Past Commander of Newburyport Knights Templar and a Shriner.

Mel leaves behind his wife, Janet; daughter, Heather Brown; son, Stephen Woodman; grandchildren, Vanessa and Prince Gweh, Samantha, Adam and Cole Woodman; great-granddaughters, Ayla and Nyah Gweh; his brother, Harmon Woodman and wife Jeannine; his sister, Faith Woodman and husband Hugh Maynard; along with many generations of nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date to be announced. Donations may be given to the Belleville Congregational Church or Shriners Burn Hospital, Boston, MA. Arrangements were by Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.