C. W. Colvin Charles Woodruff C. W. was born in Unionville, Louisiana on January 12, 1922. He passed from this earthly life and entered into Heaven on February 1, 2011 at the age of 89 years. A celebration of the life of Mr. Colvin will be held in the Trinity United Methodist Church Burkhalter Chapel in Ruston, Louisiana, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 5, 2011. Visitation with the family will be held before the service beginning at 10:00 AM at the Chapel. Mr. Colvin was the second of six children born to Thomas Ralph Colvin and Bertha Elaine Goodgoin Colvin. The family was hard-working and very close, bonding together through good times and difficult years. As the oldest son, Mr. Colvin became the head of the household at the age of 19 years after the early death of his father. Mr. Colvin was a life-long resident of Ruston. He graduated from Ruston High School and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Business in 1950. Mr. Colvin proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a member of the Naval Armed Guard during World War II. The Armed Guard was a branch of the U. S. Navy serving on Merchant Marine vessels armed for wartime. These ships transported tanks, planes, bombs, fuel, sulphur to make ammunition, and other war supplies to ports all over the world. In total, Colvin made 7 round trips across the North Atlantic and 2 round trips to the South Pacific while in the Armed Guard. For a country boy who had seldom left North Louisiana, these world travels made a lasting impression. Mr. Colvin had a vivid memory for details of his Navy experiences and enjoyed telling stories of both the humorous and the harrowing times during the war. With the help of Senator Randy Ewing, Mr. Colvin was instrumental in arranging for an Armed Guard Day before the Louisiana Legislature in Baton Rouge on June 1, 1999. This branch of the Navy had not previously been recognized by the Louisiana Legislature. Many Louisiana servicemen who served in the Armed Guard were honored before the Senate and the House. Mr. Colvin addressed both chambers, describing the service of the Armed Guard and ending by calling out ports-of-call around the world with the servicemen responding with a ØÇø_YESØÇø_ to show the ports where they travelled. He was very proud that day and able to share this moment with his wife Mary Edna, daughter Jan, son Charley, daughter-in-law Terri, and all four of his granddaughters. Mr. Colvin was the Co-owner of Cole-Colvin Insurance Agency, beginning work in the Agency with his father-in-law S. L. Cole in 1948. After the death of Mr. Cole in 1977, Mr. Colvin and his wife Mary Edna were Co-owners of until their retirement in 1981. He was a good businessman, but he always took a few minutes to walk around the corner from the office to the Post Office CafØÇø_ for a cup of coffee with customers and friends. A long-time member of the Lions Club International, Mr. Colvin joined the organization in 1950 and was active until he retired in 2007. He served as President and especially enjoyed barbequing chickens for the annual fundraising. Mr. Colvin served on the Lincoln Parish School Board for several terms during the 1960s and 1970s. In that position, he was able to present Ruston High School diplomas to her daughter Jan and to his son Charley. Mr. Colvin was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He and Mary Edna were among the founding members of the Willing Workers Sunday School Class. He served as a Communion Steward for over 15 years A proud and patriotic veteran, Mr. Colvin was an active member of the local chapters of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW. Mr. Colvin loved sports. He played football and baseball at Ruston High School. He also participated in boxing in high school and in the Navy. He coached his son Charley in Little League baseball through the years. He was an avid sports fan of the Ruston High Bearcats and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, especially during the playing years of son and grandson. He enjoyed watching practice almost as much as attending the games. Mr. Colvin loved the out-of-doors, especially the North Louisiana woods. He was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. He loved to teach children to hunt and fish, especially his son Charley and his grandson Will. Best of all, Mr. Colvin was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved children, spending time with each grandchild and always taking a special interest in nieces and nephews, friends of his grandchildren, and neighbors. He and his wife Mary Edna made all children feel special and welcome in their home. One granddaughter described her Granddaddy as ØÇø_the ultimate teacher of life.ØÇø_ He taught all 5 of his grandchildren to ride a bicycle and was almost as excited and enthusiastic as they were. Later, he taught all 5 of his grandchildren to drive. We all will remember his encouraging coaching comments. Mr. Colvin loved and enjoyed his grandchildren. When the granddaughters were small, all four of them would together crawl into his lap to visit with their Granddaddy. He attended all events and supported all his grandchildren through their years in school. He was always there and most proud at sports activities, school plays, gymnastics meets, piano recitals and church activities. In his retirement, he especially enjoyed working in his yard and tending his azaleas, camellias, and dogwood trees. In addition, he made walking sticks out of Colorado and North Louisiana native wood. He made 161 walking sticks that he gave to family and friends and also to the Ruston Lions Club for sale. He loved searching the woods for the perfect stick and delighted in finding one with a pretty knot or a good buck rub. During their retirement years, the Colvins traveled in their travel trailer all across the U.S. They visited all the 48 continental States and especially loved staying in many of the national parks. They also enjoyed short week-end, getaways. Mr. and Mrs. Colvin were members of the Caney Lake Good Sams camping club, finding many good friends who shared the joys of camping. Mr. Colvin is survived by his loving wife of 64 years ØÇø_ the true joy of his life – Mary Edna Cole Colvin. He is also survived by a daughter Jan Colvin of Ruston and fiancØÇø_ Gary Hammon of Redmond, WA; son Charley Colvin and wife Terri of Kilgore, Texas. He was so proud of his five grandchildren: Will Jones and wife Amy of Lufkin, Texas; Hasson Jones Felber and husband Eddie of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kim Colvin of Kilgore, Texas and fiancØÇø_ Nolan Willis; Katie Colvin Webb and husband T.J. of Denver, Colorado; and Kristi Colvin Holman and husband Brandon of Centralia, WA. He was blessed with two precious great-grandchildren Cole William Jones of Lufkin, Texas; and Evelyn Ruth Felber of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Colvin is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law: Bill Colvin and wife Mary of Ruston, Victor Colvin and wife Janelle of Ruston, Thomas Colvin and wife Lelia of David, Florida; and Billie Jean Colvin of Argyle, Texas. Mr. Colvin was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Fannie Mae Colvin Lann, his brother Herbert Colvin, and nephews Tommy Colvin and Hank Colvin. The family is thankful for the care of Dr. Mark Blackwelder, the staff of The Russ House, and the staff of Ruston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. We also appreciate the loving assistance of special caregivers Sandra Umeri, Dorothye Thomas, Lee Ester Bavers, Dianna Scott, Theresa Mason, and Ethel Coleman. Officiating at the Celebration Service will be Reverend Jerry Hilbun and Reverend Brian Mercer. Pallbearers will be Will Jones, Eddie Felber, Robert Lann, Scott Colvin, Tommy Phillips, and Wade Wright. In lieu of floral memorials, the family requests that any memorial gifts be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or to the Louisiana Methodist ChildrenØÇø_s Home in Ruston. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com