Ernest Paul Woodings

Woodings, Ernest Paul Loving and beloved husband, step- father and friend, passed away at home on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. He was 74 years old. Paul was born on April 1, 1937, the only child of Ena Gardiner (Silverwood) and John Richard Woodings, in Sandal, Yorkshire, England. He attended Ackworth Boarding School from 1948 to 1955 and medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland from 1955 to 1961. He obtained many medical degrees and qualifications in the UK where he practiced medicine in hospitals, Glaxo Group Research, the BBC and British Telecom. Paul retired from medicine in 1992 went on to receive a M.A. with distinction from the University of Edinburgh. His first partner in life was Josephine Andrews, who died unexpectedly of cancer in 1991. Paul met Karen Helland in 1993 at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo where they were both studying Norwegian Art History and were married in 2000. He was an avid sailor, active in the Northfield Arts Guild Theater and the Northfield Senior Center where he taught beginning computer classes. He and Karen have traveled all over the world, most recently to South America. He is survived by his wife, Karen Helland; his two step-children, Chloe Helland and Jan Saxhaug, and a large close-knit extended family in the US. He will be remembered always as waking up every morning to "another day in paradise!" There will be a service of celebration and remembrance for Paul on Sunday, December 18th, at 2 pm at the First United Church of Christ located at 300 Union St., Northfield, Minnesota. Memorials are preferred to Save the Children, Hospice Foundation of America, CaringBridge.org, Health Finders Collaborative of Northfield, or the Northfield Arts Guild. Benson & Langehough (507) 645-5123 northfieldfuneral.com

Published on December 16, 2011