Elwood "Woody" McCleary

Elwood "Woody" McCleary, Jr., 57, of Wilbur Newton St. in Morganton died Sunday, April 11, 2010 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC following a period of declining health. He was born December 30, 1952 in Burke County, and was the son of the late Rev. Elwood McCleary, Sr. and Aileen Virginia Buchanan McCleary. Elwood was a member of the Morganton First Assembly of God. He was a registered interpreter for the deaf, and always volunteered to interpret for college students. Woody was a selfless giver, and put the needs of other people before his own. He and his son, Timothy, enjoyed collecting rare items. Elwood was a loving and devoted father. He served 10 years in the Air Force and 17 years with the National Security Agency as an interpreter.He is survived by his son, Timothy Allen McCleary and fiancée, Casey Anne Crouch, of Stevensville, MD; a sister, Diane "Sissy" Irvine, PhD. and husband, David, of Austin, TX; and a niece, Elizabeth Anne Goble Brammer of Jersey City, NJ, and step-children, Robert Morelli of Stevensville, MD, Anna Drake of Edgewater, MD, Mike Drake of Camp Pendleton, CA, Brian Drake of Mattoon, IL, and Kimberly Kimball of Mattoon, IL.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 16, 2010 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. Daniel Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Friday one hour before the service.