Clyde Woodard

William "Clyde" Woodard, born February 27, 1933, in Ralls, Texas, quietly passed away with family by his side in Abilene on December 14, 2025, after living a long, old-school, hardworking Christian life as a farmer and rancher. Equal parts grit, faith, and a healthy dose of cowboy "BS," he spent most of his life in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains before relocating to the Central Texas area for the last 30 years. Anyone who knew Clyde could not deny that he was a true Texan, a man who relished good stories, a fast-paced game of dominoes, and the pride he drew from his three children.

Graduating from Ralls High School in 1952, he served in the United States Army, where he was deployed overseas for a time. Following his service time, he learned to fly airplanes from Morgan Locker in Muleshoe, Texas, and went on to become notorious for flying spray planes and other small commercial aircraft. After "rolling crop duster tires over the tops of cotton and maize crops" for over ten years, Clyde relocated to Friona and the Hub community (south of Friona) where he began farming and started a family. Deeply rooted in the agricultural community, he would take pride in growing high-yield, irrigated commodities and making sure his fields were "weed-free." He partnered in agri-business in the Hub community, including West Hub Gin and Hub Ariel Spraying Services. He was a regular coffee drinker and lunch eater at the Hub Café, which he claimed to be the "House of Knowledge," and he made numerous friends in the process. In the mid-1990s, Clyde farmed and ranched in the Coolidge area of Central Texas. where he enjoyed raising cattle and dry-land farming, until his last three years, when he lived at Lyndale Independent Living in Abilene. 

Clyde's jolly attitude and his claim to living a long life were due to his diet of plenty of red meat, with salt pork bacon as a favorite. He began most days with a dip of Original Wintergreen Skoal, which he would enjoy throughout the day until bedtime. He joked that Skoal was his antibiotic. He also said that good western swing country music was a way to soothe the soul, and he enjoyed plenty of it while wearing his starched Wrangler jeans tucked into his cowboy boots, with a good two-step on the dance floor. Clyde loved a loyal dog, and he had many, including Leroy, Jake, Sid, and Jake II, the one he taught to carry a bowling ball. If you knew Clyde, you've got a few dozen stories worth telling. If you didn't, you've probably heard a few dozen anyway - and truth be told, they're likely all true... or close enough for ranch talk. Clyde was a God-fearing Christian man who will be missed; he was blessed to live a long life and will be fondly remembered by those who knew him. 

Clyde is preceded in death by his father, William Jasper Woodard; mother, Etha Delila Woodard; sister, Rachel Williams; brother-in-law, Pat; sister, Mary Dilks; brother-in-law, Don, all of Fort Worth, and Larry Hall of Abilene. His daughter Shea Woodard Hall of Abilene survives Clyde along with daughter Shannel Woodard Anderson, also of Abilene, and son Shayne Woodard (Jennifer) of Austin. Clyde is further survived by his treasures of grandchildren including granddaughters Kayli Green (Nick) of Mineral Wells; Whitney Woodard of New York City; Abbey Woodard of Denver, Colorado; Anney Woodard of Washington, D.C.; Charlie Anderson of Abilene; Ava Rose Newton of Austin; grandson Chap Newton of Austin; and great-granddaughter Scarlet Green of Mineral Wells, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends that he truly loved.

Family and friends will gather to share their stories and celebrate this unique Texan at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 22, at The Alamo on the Silverado, located at 2417 FM 1750, Abilene, TX 79602. Please let us know if you have plans on attending the celebration of life by clicking on the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOCVgeqOy5L-vwsZlzh6piA0FfGaWUybCt6pGl5XhdQmbsBQ/viewform?pli=1

Internment will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 23, at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 7457 West Lake Road, Abilene, TX 79601.

Honorary Pallbearers will be granddaughters, Kayli Green, Whitney Woodard, Abbey Woodard, Anney Woodard, Charlie Anderson, and Ava Rose Newton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Community Foundation of Abilene- https://www.cfabilene.org, the Food Bank of West Central Texas- https://www.fbwct.org, Hendrick Home for Children- https://www.hendrickhome.org and Stick Horses and Capes- https://stickhorsesandcapes.org 

Memories may be shared, and condolences submitted at: www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Lyndale Independent Living for three wonderful years of support, nursing, and compassionate care. A special thank you to the dedicated staff: Mary, Marissa, Yolanda, Danielle, Kelsey, Traci, Jess, DeShay, Elise, Brook, and hospice nurses Shannon, Estraletta, Angela, and Shelbey, who provided such comfort, especially during the final hours of his life. A big shout-out to cafeteria supervisor Malinda, who always made a special effort to check on him and be sure he was well fed.

We are especially grateful to Sher Doherty, a devoted caretaker and dear friend; Hendrick Hospice; Dr. Hudman; PA Katherine Wilson; Dr. Cory Brown; Dr. Sina Aboutalebi; and our cousin Ken Woodard for their kindness, professionalism, and care during this journey.