Jack Arnold Wooten, 84, passed away at Blake Medical Center on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
He was born in Premier, West Virginia on August 1, 1938, to Jack and Verna (Stone) Wooten. He graduated from Welch High School in 1956 and joined the United States Air Force (USAF) that same year. He met his wife, Patricia (Kinne) while stationed at Homestead AFB, FL. He spent 30 years stationed on the east coast of the US and in Germany where he and his family traveled to many countries. Upon retiring from the USAF, Jack took a job with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. He continued his career as an electronics technician for another 20 years finally retiring for good in 2009. Jack had many interests, and he loved history, the outdoors, astronomy, birds, trees, and flowers and passed on these loves to his children and grandchildren.
Jack was a member of the Knights of Columbus at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs for 35 years. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant leader for local Troop 10. He volunteered with the troop for his son, Bobby, and his grandson, Jacob for a total of 24 years. When his girls were younger, he was also an assistant troop leader with Patricia for their Girl Scout troop for many years. One of the things Jack was most proud of was his and Patricia’s work with foster care. Jack started caring for babies in the early 1980s through Catholic Social Services in Panama City, FL. When he moved to Sarasota, he continued to care for children through Child Services in Manatee County. The Wooten's were a foster family for 25 years taking care of over 200 babies and children. He and Pat loved these children as their own – he really was Grampy to hundreds of children.
Jack is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia; his daughters, Theresa Williams, Laura Gavin (William), Nancy Hamill (Michael), Misty Wooten and his son, Robert (Bobby) Wooten (Coral); his grandchildren, Kyle Wooten, Zachary Williams (deceased), Jacob Woods, Leah Gavin, Miranda and Julianna Hamill, Aidyn and Azalea Wooten and great-grandson, Khalil Wooten.
There will be a Catholic Funeral Mass with Military Honors 10:00 AM, Friday, December 2, 2022, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 833 Magellan Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.