Louis Whaley “Pa” Wootan, beloved husband, father, grandpa, pee-paw, uncle, cousin, friend, and soldier, went to be with the Lord on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the age of 99. Louis was born on April 2, 1924, in Birmingham, Ala.
He joined the U.S. Navy, during World War II. He served in the South Pacific around New Guinea and drove a landing craft. His claim to fame was that while serving in New Guinea, they had him dress up like a Japanese sailor and drive a landing craft, which appeared in the John Wayne movie, “The Fighting Seabees.” After serving in the Navy, Louis was a proud member of the Plumber & Pipefitter Union Local 142 for 75 years. While in the Union, he met the love of his life, Joyce “Ma,” and after just six weeks, they married and shared 64 beautiful years together.
Louis was a good man. He was a simple, honest man who loved his family and country. Louis was generous, charming, gentle, thoughtful, kind, and patient. He had a sense of humor, was witty and above all, honest. Louis was blessed with a large, loving, extended family who he put first in his life.
When Wayne and Charlie were growing up, Pa always took the family to do outdoor things. His joys in life were hunting and fishing. In his later years, Pa and Ma would sit in the deer blind together. When his eyesight began to fail, Ma would find the deer and tell him where it was and he’d focus on the area and be able to find it and shoot. After losing his eyesight at the age of 90, Pa still went fishing with the family. Wayne would cast, hand the pole to Pa, and he would catch and reel in the fish.
Pa was an avid Atlanta Braves fan along with Ma. He loved to gamble, taking multiple trips a year to Eagle Pass. His last trip to play the slots was just a few months ago. Pa loved family get-togethers, listening to old movies and music, and going out to eat. His favorite foods being fried mushrooms, fried pork chops or fish, fried okra, and cherry tomatoes. Louis was also an animal lover. He loved his cat, Sparkles, as much as she loved him.
At the VA home where Louis lived for the last three years, he was blessed with his roommate and friend, Wade Smith. Wade was a great friend to Louis. He used to say that Wade was the best nurse as he would tuck Louis in at night and get him drinks from their little refrigerator. He felt like Wade was family and called him his buddy. The Wootan family would like to thank Louis’s nurses and the staff at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home for their care and compassion. We will miss you deeply — your gentleness, your wittiness, your kindness, and your warm embrace, said the family. You will remain in all of our hearts forever.
Louis was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Lucille Wootan; mother Floread (McClusky) Wootan; son Charles Wootan (Joyce Ann); great-granddaughter Kyley Wootan; great-great-granddaughter Brayleigh Wootan; and brother C.R. “Red” Wootan.
He is survived by his son, Wayne Wootan (Sharon); grandchildren Joey Wootan (Amy), Jennifer Blankenship (Bill), and Shelley Helbert (Jeremy); great-grandchildren Joshua Wootan (Codi), Lane Wootan, Hailey Balleza (Fernando), and Paislee Helbert; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives; and many friends.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, June 21, from 5-8 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7 p.m., in the Finch Funeral Chapel in La Vernia, Texas.
A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Ann Catholic Church in La Vernia, with Father Johnson Lê to officiate.
Interment with military honors will follow in the Post Oak Community Cemetery in La Vernia.
Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 or www.DAV.org/donate.
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