Woodrow "Woody" Wilson Morgan, Jr.

Woodrow Wilson Morgan, Jr., age 85, of Milford, DE passed peacefully into the Kingdom of his Lord, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at home with family at his bedside. He died exactly 23 years to the day he retired, after a fulfilling life of raising a family, operating a self-started business, and enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Known as "Woody" throughout his life, he was born August 28,1937 in Milford, DE, the son of the late Woodrow Wilson Morgan, Sr., and Anita (Short) Morgan of Lincoln, DE, where he grew up. He attended school in Lincoln and later Milford High School, where he played tenor saxophone in the band. After high school, he continued playing music with friends and acquaintances in local night clubs. He married his high school sweetheart, Joan K. Reed, in July 1957 and began working for Frank Jackson in his printing business in Milford, DE learning how to operate a printing press and acquiring the knowledge and skill of a trade which became his employment for the next 15 years. After the birth of his first child, he moved to Wilmington, DE and worked as a press operator in that city and then moved to Newark, DE and began work there. Through contacts in the industry and his reputation for meticulous quality production and care of the equipment he operated, job opportunities arose at printing companies in Philadelphia, PA. He began commuting daily by train from Wilmington to Philadelphia for a period of time before deciding to relocate his family to Turnersville, NJ in December 1965 in order to be able to commute by car to his workplace. While residing in NJ, he was able to eventually become employed at business form printers located near Bellmawr, NJ allowing a much closer commute from his home. With his ever-increasing knowledge of the presses, he operated and his true enjoyment of his trade, he was offered a position by Schriber Press Manufacturing to install and train operators of their presses to locations across the U.S., but he declined due to the amount of time the work would take him away from his family. He continued as a press operator until 1973 when he began exploring options to move his family back to his hometown of Lincoln, DE and at the end of 1973 did return to DE leaving his career in printing behind and beginning a series of jobs that eventually led to the opportunity of starting his own business.

In August 1978 with the help and support of his wife, he began building a wholesale greenhouse business producing dish gardens for sales to retail florists. With dedication and persistence and the hiring of many great employees Woody and Joan created a successful enterprise which served retail florists with their dish gardens by weekly delivery throughout Delaware and the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington DC metro area. Woody greatly enjoyed the role of sales in the business and the constant connection with his customers, entailing lengthy conversations and building mutually beneficial relationships with his customers. By the year 2000, he and Joan were ready to step aside and begin retirement. On February 1, 2000, they stepped aside as their son and his wife took over operating the business. Upon retiring he quickly headed to his winter home in Fort Myers, FL and spent many years as a "snowbird" enjoying the warmer winters of FL. He learned to play shuffleboard and competed on teams in tournaments in his Cinnamon Cove community. He returned to his home in Milford during the summer months and enjoyed time with family and attending events involving his grandchildren whom he loved dearly as their poppop.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan, his granddaughter Hannah Davies, and his two daughters in law, Lisa Ritter Morgan, and Susan Morgan. He is survived by his children, sons, Bruce Morgan, Gary Morgan, daughter and son-in-law Lisa K. Davies and Greg Davies. He is also survived by grandchildren, Kellie Hodgins (Tom), Alissa Morgan, Carlee Morgan, Jeremy Morgan, and Trevor Davies, in addition to his sister Joyce Ennis-Jopp and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Viewing to be held at Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford, DE on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, from 11am-1pm, with funeral service to follow. Online condolences are welcome at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com