The whistle has blown, and the train has pulled into the station one final time for Thomas Clinton Woodward, Sr., 87, of Palestine, IL. A man whose life was built on iron rails, hard work, and unwavering devotion to his country and family, Tom passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by those he loved.
Born March 12, 1937, in Russell Township, rural Lawrence County, IL, Tom was one of seventeen children born to Tim & Bertha (Devin) Woodward. Growing up in a crowded home with little to spare, he learned early that loyalty, perseverance, and showing up for those who depended on him mattered more than what was in his pocket. Even as a young man, he put his family first-every paycheck from his first job went straight to his mother. He helped raise his younger sisters and stood by his siblings, a steady hand through the ups and downs of life.
Tom's journey on the rails began in 1954 when he hired on with the Illinois Central Railroad a

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