Bernard "Woody" Elwood Honaker

Bernard Elwood “Woody” Honaker, born April 29, 1943 in Pocahontas, VA went home to be with the Lord peacefully on February 5, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Milton, DE. He was 80 years old and passed away comfortably in his sleep, after many years of illnesses.

He is survived by his brothers Ray Honaker and his wife Beverly, Gary Honaker and his wife Barbara, Sam Honaker and his wife Denise, his sisters Margaret Shrader, Gayle Crist, Karen Irwin, and Sherry Murphy and her husband Wayne, his sister-in-law Myrtle Honaker, his daughter Terry Lysinger and her husband William Lysinger III, his granddaughter who he raised Heather Wlasiuk and her husband Peter, his grandchildren Crystal Lysinger, Mike Lysinger, Mark Lysinger and his wife Tiffany, Matthew Lysinger and his wife Alisha, Tiffany Powell and her husband Danny, Tabatha McLachlan, Shawn Honaker Jr., David Honaker, Pamela “Jessica” Honaker, a special friend who was like a daughter Ellen Fitzgerald, 21 great grandchildren, many other family members, long-time friends, his church family and his fur-baby Elvis.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Cynthia S. Honaker, their sons Shawn and Johnny Ray Honaker, his father and mother Bernard M. and Mary C. Honaker, his brothers Billy Honaker, Martin Honaker and Charlie Honaker, and his sisters Mahoda Shrader, Shelby Moore and Sheila Austin.

After being a coal miner for 30 years in Virginia, his father and mother moved to Delaware in 1958 and worked at Chrysler. Shortly afterwards, in 1961 Woody moved to Delaware where he met Cindy. The two tied the knot in 1962 for 54 years of marriage before she preceded him in death.

Woody was a hardworking man who retired from GM in 1993 after working there for 30 years, he drove for Enterprise for 7 years, owned a sub shop in Millsboro for 7 years, ran painting crews for 8 years and has had his own construction company for 3 years.

He was a long-time diehard fan of the New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers, Boston Celtics, and wrestling. Woody thoroughly enjoyed being in several bowling leagues, pitching horseshoes, shooting pool, playing pinochle and spades, traveling and playing dominoes. Him and his wife loved taking several trips to Jamaica, North Carolina, Virginia and the Poconos together. They enjoyed dancing together to Anne Murray’s “Can I have this dance” and one of his many favorite hymns was “Here I am Lord.” After his wife’s passing he embarked on a trip to the Holy land in Jerusalem where he was proudly baptized in the Jordan River.

Woody was truly a good devoted and passionate Christian man who absolutely loved Jesus and spending quality time together with his family and friends. He was a very dedicated church member at Zoar United Methodist Church in Millsboro, DE where he was a lay speaker, involved in prayer meetings, a member of the Zoar Men’s group, and loved to sing in the Choir. He loved to sing Christian, Country, Rod Stewart, bluegrass and a wide range of music. He loved to purchase large children’s picture Bibles to randomly hand them out to children. He was a very loyal and kind hearted soul with a smile to light up the whole world. Woody cherished togetherness and surely was a social butterfly everywhere he went. He never met a stranger! Every morning he would start his days by waking up to drink a cup of coffee, read out of his Bible, and then say a prayer as he’d close his Bible, give it a kiss and then pick a promise verse out of his jar that his granddaughter, Heather, had handmade for him. When he would set his mind to something it was considered done and there were no two ways about it because his word was set in stone like his promises. He was a very strong and truly resilient, amazing man who is absolutely going to be greatly missed by many.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Services 416 Federal St., Milton, DE 19968, with a visitation viewing is being held the night before on Friday, February 9, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. Interment will be in Milton Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Online condolences are welcome for the family at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com