David Perry Woodall Jr., age 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Riverview, Florida, on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
Born on August 24, 1935, in Shelbyville, Illinois, David was the son of the late David Perry Woodall Sr. and Stella Perry Woodall.
David grew up on the family farm with his parents and his younger brother Joe. They raised corn, hay, oats, chickens, pigs, and cows. He helped tend his mother's large vegetable gardens and he remembered the many fruits and vegetables she canned to feed the family through the winter. Some of his happiest childhood memories were the large family reunions held in the town park, where well over 100 relatives would often gather.
David loved books and was a voracious reader,. He often accompanied his mother to the library and spent many afternoons there after school. He later recalled, "The library was where I discovered National Geographic and its wonderful stories of the world." That curiosity about the wider world would stay with him throughout his life, and he was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel abroad later in life, visiting many of the countries he had read so much about.
In high school, when he wasn't helping on the farm, David played baseball and basketball and learned to play tennis and ping pong. Among his favorite classes was chemistry, taught by a teacher who had worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. The class sparked an interest in science that would shape his future.
David attended the University of Illinois, where he studied Engineering and Physics. He often joked that he chose the major because someone told him they were the two hardest subjects to study and were offered only at the University of Illinois and MIT.
After graduating, David began his career as a Weapons Systems Analyst with Northrop Aircraft in California. He later joined the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, where he worked on the Talos missile test program from 1958 to 1962. His work frequently took him to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico for flight testing.
In late 1961, during an especially busy period of missile testing, David traveled to Washington, D.C., to pick up replacement equipment. While there, he attended a Christmas party where he was introduced to his soon-to-be lifelong love, Margaret "Peggy" O'Neill. They were married in May 1962, beginning a wonderful life that endured for the remainder of their days.
David's career in defense and systems analysis took him and Peggy all over the world. Their journey began in Washington & New Jersey. Later, through various project opportunities, the Woodalls called 6 other states in the US home: Florida, Maryland, Arizona, California, and finally, Virginia. David’s work took him to multiple countries in Europe and South America, and he once presented his findings on strategic defense to a NATO panel. Along the way, David contributed to the development of the guidance of early space vehicles. His projects involved defense, space systems, the impact from Mt. St. Helens and similar eruptions on air travel and later strategic analysis and long-range planning.
No matter where they lived, David and Peggy built lasting friendships and shared a love of tennis, community, and supporting their daughters' sports activities. They embraced each new chapter together and made every place feel like home.
In retirement, David devoted himself to learning and writing. Until the day he died, he worked on what he called his "Info Sponge" papers—more than 150 carefully researched and annotated essays exploring an extraordinary range of subjects, including the history of life, grocery stores, warfare, taste and flavor, bird flight, pandemics, COVID-19, music, and countless other topics. His insatiable curiosity and love of learning never diminished.
Whether working on complex security and defense projects, enjoying a lazy Sunday with family reading, or writing his Info Sponge papers, David approached life with an enduring curiosity and a love of family and learning that inspired those who knew him.
David was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Peggy.
He is survived by his daughters, Patricia (Ron) Ohlbach, Carolyn (Jeff) Hopkins, and Barbara (Erik) Kirby and their families; his brother Joseph (Mary) Woodall, nieces, nephews and many extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, or Wikipedia are requested, with the family’s gratitude.
