Bruce W. Woodward, 74

FRANKLIN — Bruce W. Woodward of Franklin, passed away on June 4, 2024, at Concord Hospital following a short illness.

Bruce was born Feb. 3, 1950, to Richard and Gloria Woodward in Franklin and was a lifelong resident of the city. He would later come to know and love his stepmother, Laura, by whom he was lovingly raised. Bruce graduated from Franklin High School in 1968 and went on to earn his associate's degree in machine tool processing from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 1970.

He worked for Samuel Eastman company as foreman of their machine shop for 16 years until the company closed, after which he took a position with Sander Associates (later Lockheed Martin) in Manchester and became manager of both their Manchester and Nashua machine shop locations. During this time, Bruce attained his bachelor of science degree. Bruce was extremely proud of the classified work he did for the aerospace industry while with Lockheed Martin. He went on to work for Timken Aerospace Technologies in Lebanon, and retired from there in 2007.

Bruce was a strong and determined man who never let anything stop him from achieving his goals. He spent many hours hunting with his dad and “the crew” and always shared his bounty with family and friends. He was a skilled archer and skeet shooter who competed throughout New England, as well as a talented Enduro rider, running the New England circuit in his younger years. Later in life, Bruce developed a love of fishing and spent a lot of time out on the New Hampshire lakes with his best friend, Harold, again, sharing their bounty with all.

In 1979 he married the love of his life, Linda Rivard, and became dad to her two children, Christopher and Jennifer. Bruce and Linda enjoyed riding his Harley and attending the Laconia Motorcycle Week events where they met and made lifelong friendships. Linda loved to dance, so Bruce even took up ballroom dance lessons. He enjoyed spending weekends in the summer with his family, camping and fishing at Russell Pond and teaching his children how to do it all.

Bruce was immensely proud of his children and their successes in life, his daughter, a veterinary technician, and his son, an engine builder for NASCAR who worked for Joe Gibbs Racing for many years. He was thankful for the opportunities he got to travel and meet many of the NASCAR drivers, striking up a friendship with Tony Stewart. He never missed watching a race and seeing his son on TV never got old.

Bruce loved meeting, new people, young or old, and sharing his knowledge. He was always ready to lend a helping hand in any way he could. He saw the success of others as his own success.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Gloria Woodward, and stepmother Laura Woodward.

Bruce leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Linda Woodward; his sisters Brenda Fullen of Ohio and Melanie Pinard of New Hampshire; a stepbrother, Bud Connor and his family in Maine; his children, Christopher Woodward, Jennifer Kane and grandchildren Bradyn Kane, Makenna Kane and Mason Woodward, as well as his beloved great Pyrenees Gunner and Maine coon cat Kimber, whom he spoiled with love and affection.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pope Memorial Concord, SPCA, where his daughter is employed, or to the Franklin animal shelter or the ASPCA.

A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 19, at Praise Assembly of God Church, 180 School St., Tilton. A luncheon will follow the service. Please RSVP to Linda Woodward via text or phone 603-738-5724 so that the luncheon can be planned accordingly.