The first heartbeat for Elwood E. Barden Jr., (Woody), occurred around six weeks after conception.  He continued to grow and develop in his mother’s womb till the time came for him to enter this world on Tuesday, November 26^th, 1946, at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, AL.  He was the first child of Staff Sargent Barden and Ruby Lee Gillis.

Elwood Sr. continued in the Air Force for another 14 years during which time the family expanded with four additional children; Becky, Chris, and the twins, Debra and Douglas.  During those years the family was able to be together at various duty stations around the US as well as a three year tour in Japan.  After Master Sargent Barden’s retirement in 1960, the family returned to Mobile and the church they attended prior to going to Japan.  If the church doors were open, the Barden family was there.

Woody had a special bond with his grandmother, Myra Eva.  She lived alone at the family  homestead, call Rockhill Farm, near Poplarville, MS.  He spent as much time as possible at Rockhill growing up.  Woody was her first grandchild. She gave him the nickname “Sporty Boy”, by which she called him the rest of her life.

Perhaps his time at Rockhill contributed to his interest in all types of animals, insects, and snakes. He wanted to know everything about these creatures.  At one time, during high school, he had over 50 snakes caged in his parents garage.  This interest eventually lead to his life’s work.

Following high school in 1966, he received a music scholarship to Perkinston Community College, in Mississippi.  He was a very good tenor saxophone player.  Woody said it took just one day to determine he was not a musician.  While he liked music, all the other music students were completely focused on and devoted to music. For him, it was more of a hobby.  He quit after the first year.  One highlight of the year is that he lived on Rockhill Farm with his grandmother.

Woody joined the Navy and requested training in the Electrical Technical field.  The Navy sent him to Hospital Corpsman school.  He discovered a passion for medicine.  He excelled in the Navy.  He was Sailor of the Quarter at Oak Knoll Navy Hospital.  He received top evaluations and quickly advanced to Petty Officer Second Class.  His next assignment was the Navy Hospital at Subic Bay, Philippines.  Many of the patients he saw were evacuated from Vietnam.  Woody was exposed to a wide range of patients and many life or death situations.   He decided to leave the Navy and attend Veterinary school where the prospect of losing a patient was more tolerable if the patient was an animal rather than a person.

While at the hospital, Woody met and married Arseia (Zeny) Bennett.  They were married for 19 years and had two children, David and Leslie.

Woody was accepted by Auburn University, one of the top Veterinary schools in the country.  His application might have been helped by an attached letter of recommendation from the Governor of Alabama, George Wallace.  In any event, it didn’t hurt.

Woody, Zeny, and young son, David, settled into life at  Auburn, first in an apartment and later they bought a single wide mobile home.  All three Barden brothers graduated from Auburn.  Chris graduated earlier but Woody’s time at Auburn overlapped with Douglas.  While studies and family occupied most of his days, fishing with Douglas was squeezed in whenever possible.   He graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in June, 1979.

Upon graduation, Dr. Elwood Barden Jr., did his internship at a large Veterinary Hospital in the Cincinnati area.  After a few years, he formed a partnership with another Vet to set up their own practice that lasted 28 years.  His daughter, Leslie was born in Ohio.

He had a reputation as an excellent doctor, devoted to his patients and clients, who always took the time necessary to treat and thoroughly discuss the case with the pet’s owner.  This often got him behind schedule but clients always returned because they liked the outstanding care he provided.

It was during this time Woody began to turned away from God.   Scientific knowledge can lead to the worship of science rather than the Creator.  Thankfully, in later years, he came back to Faith rather than Proof, as the basis of his belief in God and trust in Jesus.

His focus on work and passion for golf took much of his time and energy, perhaps too much.  He was divorced in 1992.  Leslie continued to live with Woody.  He was very proud of his two children.  David attended University of TN at Chattanooga and was in the NCAA Wrestling Championships four years in a row.  He went on to become a teacher and wrestling coach.  Leslie attended West Virginia University and was a four year letter in soccer and a significant part of their successful soccer program.  Leslie is now a CPA.

Woody married a client of his, Leslie Ann Bryant, the first time on August 29, 1992. They subsequently divorced and married a second time on October 15, 2008.  Shortly after his retirement, they moved to Virginia in 2009 to be close to his sister, Becky, and husband Marshall .  He and Marshall met the summer before starting 8^th grade at the church both their families attended.  They were life-long friends.

In hindsight, it was around this time Woody was showing early signs of the disease that eventually took his life, Alzheimer’s.  It is ironic in that his mind was his strength and a key factor in his professional success.  In the end, it failed him.  But, till the end, he had a good disposition and appreciated the care he received.  For that, all were grateful, especially Leslie Ann, his primary caregiver.

Woody’s last heartbeat was on Resurrection (Easter) Sunday, April 20, 2025 at his home in Colonial Beach, VA with his wife, Leslie Ann by his side.  He was 78-years-old.

Woody is survived by his two children, David Barden(Roxanne), Leslie Wilkens (Brent), 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and his four brothers and sisters.

May his memory be a Blessing and live on through the legacy of family and friends left behind.