Dr. William Allen French Woods

Dr. William Allen French Woods, 80, of Harrisburg, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025, at Huntersville Health & Rehabilitation Center in Huntersville, NC.

William, or Bill as he was known, was born August 3, 1944, in New York to the late William A. Woods and Isabel Burnham Woods. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Bruce B. Woods.

Bill was a graduate of Dickinson College and received his medical degree from New York Medical College. He practiced psychiatry in private practice in Connecticut as well as with the U.S. Navy while stationed in Portsmouth, VA. With the Navy, he served with Operation Provide Promise in Croatia and found deep meaning in his work with veterans. Bill found joy in gardening, grilling for his family, riding horses, exploring museums, reading, and attending the symphony, opera and ballet. He particularly loved visiting his ancestral home in Woodstock, VT, traveling and eating his way through Europe and relaxing on the beaches of New England and Hatteras with his family. He was a prolific letter-writer and enjoyed the absence of modern technologies whenever possible, much to the dismay of his wife and daughters. Bill never met a dog he didn’t love, and the chaos of a house full of four-legged grand-dogs and guest dogs was always welcomed. He also found true joy in becoming a Granddad. He was deeply proud of each of his grandchildren and delighted in their antics in all the ways that grandparents do (but parents do not). He will be deeply missed by his family every day.

Visitation will be Friday, March 14th 11am.- 1 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home in Harrisburg, NC located at 12115 University City Blvd., Harrisburg, NC 28075. The funeral service will be officiated by Father Matthew Harrison and held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14th at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd, Charlotte, NC 28213.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Virginia Anne Seward Woods of Harrisburg, NC, daughter, Elizabeth (Joshua) Meikrantz of Boiling Springs, PA, daughter, Amanda (Allen) Woods also of Harrisburg, NC, his grandchildren Jack, Connor, Abigail, Ashley and Taylor, his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Ollie.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the organization of your choice that focuses on advancing scientific medical research.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Woods family.