Kyle H. Woodbury, Capt. USN (Ret)
March 26, 1928 ~ December 10, 2014
Captain Kyle H. Woodbury (Woody) passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at his home in McLean, Va. He was born March 26, 1928 in New Gloucester, Maine, the son of the late Rep. Kenneth F. and Ethel C. Woodbury.
He began his US Naval career in 1945 after graduating from Weehawken High School in New Jersey. While in the Navy, besides attending flight school in Pensacola, Florida and elsewhere, he attended Bethany College, Swarthmore College, Columbia University, as well as the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterrey, California, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He returned there later to give a seminar for students and staff on the then new Project Manager Curriculum.
He was Senior Member of Special Management Tasks Group for the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Florida; Special Missions Project Officer for Regulus 2 RPV operations, Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico; Chief Project Officer and Test Pilot of Air Development Squadron Four (VX-4) in Pt. Mugu, California. While with the Naval Air Systems Command, he was Deputy Program Manager of the Standard Arm and Shrike Missile Programs, Programs Manager of Walleye/HOBO Weapons and Manager of the Condor Missile Program. He was also Project Officer with Weapons System Evaluation Group at the Department of Defense. He served in Various flight squadrons where he flew the Phantom (F-4). the Crusader (F-8), and the Navigator (UC-45), among many others. He was carrier qualified with over 250 carrier landings, which provided many interesting stories. He was awarded various and numerous medals and was promoted to Captain in 1974. After retirement from the US Navy in 1977, he worked as a consultant at several defense contractors in the DC area, as well as starting several business of his own.
His hobbies were many and varied, among them collecting and restoring fine art and art frames. Additionally, falconry was a long-time interest of his, which led him to working with the Ornithology Department at Cornell University in the banding of migrating falcons. He also enjoyed fly fishing (there are families of trout in Montana and Maine who still tremble at his name), collecting and restoring antique fly rods, skeet shooting, and coaching several basketball and soccer teams in the McLean area.
"Woody" was a member of many organizations: The Flying Midshipmen, The Quiet Birdmen, The Tailhook Association, The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, The Virginia Falconer's Association, The Izaak
Walton League and the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club, to name a few.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Dorothy, of McLean, Virginia; daughter, Dayna of Chicago, IL; son Kyle, Jr., of Arlington, Virginia; daughter Kimberly Drye (Mark) of Marietta, Georgia; sister, Patricia Zelley of Princeton, Massachusetts; and four grandchildren. Jonathan and Alexandra (Allie) Woodbury and Jack and Luke Drye. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation of America. Burial with military honors will be held later at Arlington National Cemetery.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
He began his US Naval career in 1945 after graduating from Weehawken High School in New Jersey. While in the Navy, besides attending flight school in Pensacola, Florida and elsewhere, he attended Bethany College, Swarthmore College, Columbia University, as well as the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterrey, California, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He returned there later to give a seminar for students and staff on the then new Project Manager Curriculum.
He was Senior Member of Special Management Tasks Group for the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Florida; Special Missions Project Officer for Regulus 2 RPV operations, Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico; Chief Project Officer and Test Pilot of Air Development Squadron Four (VX-4) in Pt. Mugu, California. While with the Naval Air Systems Command, he was Deputy Program Manager of the Standard Arm and Shrike Missile Programs, Programs Manager of Walleye/HOBO Weapons and Manager of the Condor Missile Program. He was also Project Officer with Weapons System Evaluation Group at the Department of Defense. He served in Various flight squadrons where he flew the Phantom (F-4). the Crusader (F-8), and the Navigator (UC-45), among many others. He was carrier qualified with over 250 carrier landings, which provided many interesting stories. He was awarded various and numerous medals and was promoted to Captain in 1974. After retirement from the US Navy in 1977, he worked as a consultant at several defense contractors in the DC area, as well as starting several business of his own.
His hobbies were many and varied, among them collecting and restoring fine art and art frames. Additionally, falconry was a long-time interest of his, which led him to working with the Ornithology Department at Cornell University in the banding of migrating falcons. He also enjoyed fly fishing (there are families of trout in Montana and Maine who still tremble at his name), collecting and restoring antique fly rods, skeet shooting, and coaching several basketball and soccer teams in the McLean area.
"Woody" was a member of many organizations: The Flying Midshipmen, The Quiet Birdmen, The Tailhook Association, The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, The Virginia Falconer's Association, The Izaak
Walton League and the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club, to name a few.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Dorothy, of McLean, Virginia; daughter, Dayna of Chicago, IL; son Kyle, Jr., of Arlington, Virginia; daughter Kimberly Drye (Mark) of Marietta, Georgia; sister, Patricia Zelley of Princeton, Massachusetts; and four grandchildren. Jonathan and Alexandra (Allie) Woodbury and Jack and Luke Drye. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation of America. Burial with military honors will be held later at Arlington National Cemetery.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Dear Dot, Kyle and family, We want you to know that we are thinking of you in this time of sorrow.
Dear Kim, You and your family are in all our thoughts and prayers. Your Dad was a fantastic person and a great American. With deepest sympathies, Butch
Dear Kim, We are thinking of you and your family, and have you in our prayers. We send our love and sympathy.
My condolance and deepest sympathy to the family. Woody and I were colleagues and friends at IDA and for many years afterwards. We will miss him. Bernard Paiewonsky.
We will always have good memories of the times we visited the two of you. We wish you God’s blessings for comfort and strength in the days to come. We love you!
He used his abilities to make this world safer.
Dear Aunt Dot, Kyle, Kim & family, Sending condolences and love and keeping you all in our prayers!
Woody was someone who was there for me when I needed him as a kid! Being one of my Fathers closest friends and breakfast buddy I remember him always asking me if I could skate backwards…I clearly remember his wonderful sense of humor and watching him with his trained hawks….what an experience…I will never forget him…he was one of a kind! He will be greatly missed… My deepest sympathy….