Theodore Woodward

Theodore Robert (Bob) Woodward, age 89, of Kennett Square, Pa, died on Sunday August 22, 2021, at Arden Courts of Wilmington, DE where he succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease.  He was the husband of Susan Fassett Rayne Woodward with whom he shared 39 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, PA he was the son of the late Theodore B. Woodward and the late Lillian Heron Woodward.  He grew up on his family-owned farm, Pine Hill Fruit and Dairy Farm on Woodward Road in Kennett Township and has authored a book The Farm vividly recounting his memories of farm life.

Bob was a 1950 graduate of Kennett High School where he was active in class leadership, sports, and music. He played violin in the school orchestra and the Kennett Symphony Orchestra; he also sang in school and church choirs. After graduation, Bob matriculated to Bucknell University where he majored in Civil Engineering and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.  Fraternity life and the friendships it engendered played a vital role in his development, and as a proud Figi he mentored succeeding classes of young men; the significance of his contributions is memorialized by the naming of a fraternity house study room the T. Robert Woodward room.

Bob’s career with PECO culminated in his position as manager of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland Interconnection (PJM) a consortium of electrical power producers.  In this position, he was a member of national and international power organizations and advocated for interconnection in Europe, Australia, and South America, a commitment he continued to pursue after retirement through his private consulting company, Power Systems Consulting Inc.

Bob enjoyed gardening, sailing, and mentoring family and other young friends.  Family was central to him, and he was known as the best husband, father, grandfather, uncle ever!

In addition to his wife Susan, Bob is survived by his three daughters from his first marriage,  Laurie Newell and her husband Keith of Hillsborough, NC, Leslie Rieling of Ranger, GA, and Susie Christie and her husband Erik of Hampstead, NC; two stepsons Timothy Rayne and his wife Amee of Kennett Square and Steve Rayne and his wife Lisa of Lincoln University; ten grandchildren Ryan Rieling, Brett Rieling, Jeffrey Newell, Caleb Newell,  Andrew Newell, Peter Newell, Sierra Rayne, Mac Rayne, Josh Rayne, and Matt Rayne; two great grandchildren Noa Grace Newell and Jonathan Keith Newell; one sister Doreen Woodward Sonchen Conard; three nieces Pam Rudy, Kim Longenecker, and Beth Bannister; one nephew Bob Sonchen and two cousins, Margaret Woodward Ostrum and Janice Woodward Good.  He was predeceased by one sister Jeanne Woodward Menges, one niece Carol Sanville, and one cousin John Woodward.

You are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday August 28, 2021, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union Street, Kennett Square PA 19348 at 3:00pm.  Masks are required.  The link for the recorded service is below.  We apologize that the zoom link was not working properly.  Interment is private in Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square.  Contributions in his memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org  Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory (1800-FUNERAL) Condolences at www.griecofunerals.com