Wayne Woodbury, 82, of Levittown, a 44-year member of the Wantagh Fire Department died Sept. 22, 2006 after a long illness.

Woodbury joined the fire department March 26, 1962 and was assigned to Engine Company 4 (694) and served with dedication and pride until his demise.

Born in Clinton, IA, Wayne and his family moved to Sunnyside, Queens when he was 2 years old. He attended local schools, grew up in the neighborhood and with the beginning of WWII joined the Army Air Corps in February 1943. He was assigned to the 8th Army and served in photo reconnaissance where he spent time in a B-17 Bomber.

During his service to his country Mr. Woodbury served in the following campaigns: Central Europe, Rhineland, Air Offensive of Europe, Normandy, Ardennes and Northern France and earned the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal and a Distinguished Unit Badge.

While stationed in England he met his wife of 58-years, Edna Ford. According to Edna, she and a girlfriend were taking a holiday in Oxford, England to get away from the bombings in London. As she said "we went to town to find two rich Americans as we had no food and to get away from the bombs." Instead she found herself in front of a newspaper office looking through a window at photos of the "Flying Bombs" (V-1 rockets launched by the Germans). Two Americans also found themselves there, a conversation began and in September of 1945 upon his discharge, Wayne and Edna came back home to the states. They settled back in Queens and in 1954 moved to Levittown where they raised two children.

Woodbury was waked at the Dalton Funeral Home with full fire department honors. A fire department service was held Sept. 25. He was cremated with internment at St. Jude's of Wantagh.

Woodbury is survived by his wife Edna; a son Wayne and his wife Sheryl of Wantagh, a daughter Leslie Valenze of Lake Placid, NY; three grandchildren: Travis 24, Eric 21 and Tiffany 26 and her husband John of Ilion, NY; and one great-grandchild, Jarred 4.

- Harry Loud