Clarence Allen Woodall, Jr., beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great- grandfather, formerly of Princeton, passed away on Monday, February 16, at his home in The Villages, Florida. He was 99 years old.
Woodall was born on January 15, 1927, in Kuttawa, KY to the late Clarence Allen Woodall, Sr., and Nellie Grimes Woodall.
He attended East Side School and graduated from Butler High School in 1944. He was a member of the Butler High Band, where his love of music began. He and his bandmates played often, traveling to surrounding towns on the milk train to perform at local clubs.
He enrolled at Murray Teachers College to study music, but was drafted into the United States Army in 1945. He took basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., and played in the 4th Infantry Division Band and in the 53rd Army Ground Forces Band. He marched in victory parades in New York City and Washington, D.C.
After receiving an honorable discharge at the end of the war, he married Mary Ann (Walker) Woodall. Together, they had six children and were married for 57 years until her death on May 3, 2004.
C.A. enrolled at Murray State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree. His first job was at Hopkinsville High School as Band Director.
In 1953, he earned a Master’s Degree in Music from Northwestern University. He then accepted an appointment as Band Director at Clarksville High in Clarksville, TN.
In 1955, Woodall moved his young family back to Princeton. He began a new career with his father at Woodall Insurance and Real Estate, established in 1907 by Clarence Sr. He received the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) in 1971. He was a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky and the Professional Insurance Agents of Kentucky.
He was involved in his community and was a member of the Kiwanis Club, where he was President and Lt. Governor, Charter member and past President of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for the Pennyrile Board of Realtors, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. C. A. was an avid golfer and a member and past President of the Princeton Golf Club.
He continued pursuing his love of music as the founder of The Music Makers dance band. He played in the Paducah Jazz Ensemble, the Bill French Band, the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, among others, and performed with The Lettermen, Bobby Vinton, Bob Newhart, Jimmy Dorsey Band, Ray Stevens, Todd Hill Combo, and the Jim Fern Band.
While in Princeton, Woodall was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, where he served on the Parish Council and was the music director. He retired from Woodall Insurance and Real Estate Agency after over 50 years in the business.
In 2006, he married Deanna (Carr) Woodall. (Died February 17, 2026) of Paris, TN. They moved to The Villages, Florida, in 2008, where he was a member of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed golfing several times a week, and played clarinet in The Villages Concert Band, Bass clarinet in The Villages New Horizons Band, and the Clarinet Connexion, and tenor saxophone in The Savoys.
Survivors include three sons, C.A. Woodall III, (Teresa M. Woodall) of Cadiz, Carl Joseph Woodall of Murray, John Christopher Woodall of New Albany, IN, three daughters, Martha Anne Foltz (Fred Foltz) and Carol Elizabeth Woodall (Michael Stewart), both of Princeton, and Mary Frances Woodall of North Vernon, IN.: 25 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.
C.A.’s love for family and friends will forever live in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
Funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on April 17, 2026, at 1:00 pm CDT, followed by a reception at Princeton Golf Club.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to: Community Disciples, 108 W. Green St., Princeton, KY 42445, and the Princeton Art Guild, 115 E. Main St., Princeton, KY 42445.
