WILMINGTON — Eugene Beery “Gene” Woodbury, 80, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. He was born March 27, 1939, in Wilmington, son of Llewellyn E. Woodbury Jr. and Jane Beery Woodbury.
He was preceded in death by his older brother, Llewellyn E. Woodbury III.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Theresa “Tee” Doxey Woodbury; children, Eugene Beery Woodbury Jr. (Ivey), and daughter, Elizabeth Woodbury Schuett (Drew), both of Wilmington, and daughter, Margaret Woodbury Weeks (Fred) of Vero Beach, Florida; siblings, Jane Woodbury and Richard L. Woodbury (Suzanne), both of Wilmington, and Thomas Woodbury (Barbara) of New York; and six grandchildren, Andrew (Erynn), Eliza and Robert Schuett, Kate and Ben Weeks and Isabella Woodbury.
Mr. Woodbury was president and owner of Woodbury & Co., an independent underwriting insurance brokerage firm in Wilmington. He was a certified property and casualty underwriter. He was a 32nd degree Mason and member of numerous local social clubs.
He was a loving husband, father and a generous, kind friend. Gene graduated from New Hanover High School, Class of 1957. He was elected to vice president of the student body his senior year. He was ROTC Commander of Company A. He excelled on the swim team, especially in the freestyle relays. According to his memory, he shares nearly the same best high school time of about 25 seconds for the 50m freestyle relay with his grandson, Ben, 58 years later.
He attended college at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he made lifelong friends in his fraternity SAE. During college, he married his childhood sweetheart, Tee, and returned to Wilmington to work with his father and live a life of adventure.
Gene was known for his love of flying, fishing, sailing, boating, riding jet skis in black socks and blue crocs, swimming and all things boats and Wrightsville Beach. He loved stargazing, celestial navigation, exploring, and, in later life, bird watching. He was known by all for his adventurous spirit and zest for life. His high school yearbook describes him as “mischievous sometimes, dignified others, popular always.”
Whether we look to the stars or the sea, we will think of the passion and love Gene shared with all of us and know that’s where we can always find him, continuing to guide and light our paths.
The family would like to thank his caregivers, especially Dr. Chris Cosgrove and Lynne Scanlon.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, at Andrews Mortuary on Market Street. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, at Oakdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions to the charity of your choice.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
