Obituary of Elwood Belmont Midgett

Woodhull, NY | Elwood "Woody" Midgett, a 20 year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard and beloved family man, died on October 25th, 2014. He passed away at his Woodhull home after a long illness. He was 79. Woody was born October 5th, 1935 to Elwood B. and Susie (Fastnaught) Midgett (she was later Susie Quick) in Washington DC. He grew up there and spent summers in Virginia with his grandparents and occasionally the outer banks of North Carolina from where the Midgett family descended. He joined the Coast Guard in 1953 and went on to a distinguished and decorated career reaching the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. Master Chiefs constitute the top 1.25% of enlisted members of the maritime forces. He served on several USCG Cutters including the Southwind, the Edisto and the Spencer. Woody, or as he was nicknamed by his Coast Guard friends "Rooster", followed proudly in the Midgett family tradition whereby hundreds have served. There is a cutter named the USCGC Midgett. He traveled the world to places such as Greenland, Iceland, Africa, Bermuda, Cuba, New York and many more. He became a member of the fabled Arctic Realm for being one of the few to traverse the top of the Earth through the Arctic Circle. After retiring from the CG, Woody went on to do several things including being a Police Constable for the town of Woodhull and Auxiliary Deputy Sherriff for Steuben County for 10 years. He exceptionally managed Chenang Farms from 1987 until his passing and oversaw numerous activities and projects. Amongst the most important was helping lead the restoration of the nearly 150 year old Baptist Church in East Troupsburg. He also was a devoted member of the Free Masons and reached the rank of 32nd degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Woody loved to fish and hunt and was a passionate model plane builder and car mechanic. He also enjoyed a good round of golf. But nothing was more important to him than his family - to them he was known as "Poppie". He married Kathryn Meade ("Kitty" or "Hootie") July 3rd, 1955 in Frederick, MD and they were married nearly 60 years. They had four wonderful children, nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend. He is survived by: his wife Kathryn Meade Midgett; his children Susan Rolloff, Kathleen (Mike) Rude, William Midgett, Joanne (Terry) Cary; his grandchildren Tara (Jack) Smith, Renee (Travis) Warren, Jacob McCaig (Ashley), Theresa Cary (Richard), Raymond (Sherry) Cary, Samantha (Mike) Atherton, Tazra Cary (Josh), Sassiana Cary; his sister Dorothy Carpenter. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Woodhull Fire Department would be appreciated. Funeral services will be private.