Former BOE Transportation Director Woodrow Maynard, 69, died at the A.B. Chandler Medical Center in Lexington at 4:45 a.m. Thursday, December 22.
Maynard’s career with the Pike County Board of Education spanned 37 years, ending with his retirement on June 30, 1982.
He began as an emergency teacher and bus driver at Blackberry School. He taught at Piso, Academy, Hurricane and Camp Creek during his career, servicing as principal at Majestic and Shelbiana elementary schools.
When he retired Maynard recalled that during his career he watched the system change from 198 rural schools to 29 consolidated schools.
He became a supervisor with the BOE in 1957. His duties included supervising the educational program and organizing the athletic and library programs in the elementary schools.
He served as director of transportation from 1963 until he retired. He was instrumental in building a new bus garage and initiating training programs for drivers.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served with the first and sixth armored divisions and with General Patton’s Third Army during World War II. He was action in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany, earning five major campaign medals and a Bronze Star.
He was a graduate of Johns Creek High School, Pikeville College and Eastern Kentucky University.
He was past president of the Pike County Education Association, a member of the Lions Club and was active in the leadership of the Democratic Party.
Maynard and his wife, Dorothy Lowe Maynard, were married in 1940 and resided on Grassy Fork of Raccoon.
He was born April 18, 1914, at Piso, a son of Minnie Varney Maynard of Raccoon and the late John Talmage Maynard Sr.
He was a member of the Freewill Baptist Church at Piso.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by four sons, Eugene Maynard, Kenneth Maynard and Ralph Maynard of Zebulon, Gary Maynard of Raccon; two daughters, Joyce Hageman, Louisville, Loretta Kay Newsom, Seattle, Washington;
Nine brothers, O.J. Maynard, Lee City, J.T. Maynard Jr., William Maynard, and Frank Maynard of Florida, Layton Maynard and Claude Maynard of Raccoon, Bob Maynard of Michigan, Mack Maynard of Piso;
Four sisters, Hattie Collins, Raccoon, Georgia Muncy, Wells Addition, Ibba Jean McVeigh, Fort Meyers, Florida, Peggy Wolfe, Port Heron, Michigan; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, December 24, at 11 a.m. at the Piso Freewill Baptist ministers officiating. Friends may call at the Justice Funeral Home Chapel where the body will lie in state until it is removed to the church at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will follow at the Maynard-Runyon Cemetery at Piso.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be sent to the Piso Freewill Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Justice Funeral Home of Pikeville.