William C. “Woody” Woodward

OSWEGO – William C. “Woody” Woodward, 83, of Scriba, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Born and raised in Oswego, he was the son of the late William and Margaret (Murphy) Woodward Sr.

William graduated from Oswego Catholic High School.  He was a proud Firefighter for the City of Oswego, where he worked from 1971-1999, and retired as Deputy Chief.  After retirement, never one to be idle, he continued to stay active.  William drove school buses for the Oswego City School District, was the president at Oswego County Federal Credit Union, and even drove a bus during the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.   He had a talent for caning  chairs and refinishing furniture, enjoyed birdwatching, was a huge SU and Yankee Fan, and loved to downhill ski.  William also enjoyed his Harley Davidson and was a member of Wind & Fire. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, William adored his family, and will be missed greatly.

William is survived by his loving family, wife Cindy Deary, daughter Kristy (Tom) Salvador, stepchildren Terry Deary and Jessica Benway, and grandsons Nicholas Masuicca and Ryan Deary.

In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by his siblings Timothy Woodward and Margaret Ann Woodward.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Seneca Hill Manor for their kind and compassionate care.

Family and friends are invited to call on Monday, February 16, 2026, from 3-5 pm, followed by a service, at Nelson Funeral Home, 11 West Albany Street.

Arrangements are under the caring guidance of Nelson Funeral Home.