July 1, 1919 to July 22, 2015

96 year-old Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Meier, MD, died of natural causes at home in the arms of his daughters and his grandchildren. He grew up in Oshkosh, Nebraska, the third of six children, and did his undergraduate and medical school studies at the University of Nebraska, graduating with his MD degree in 1944. He married schoolteacher Charlotte Blessing of Ord, Nebraska, in 1942 and after his tour of duty with the US Navy (Marshall Islands) he opened the 24/7 “East Los Angeles Emergency Clinic” on Goodrich Boulevard near Atlantic Boulevard. Additionally he took care of Union Pacific Railroad employees and was the team doctor for the newly opened East Los Angeles Junior College. He was on the medical staff and the hospital board of Beverly Hospital, Montebello, for over 50 years.

Woody was very active in Grace Presbyterian Church, Montebello, where he donated all the stained glass windows, and in the Montebello/Whittier Masonic Lodge 323 where he rose to the 32nd degree and participated in Los Angeles Shriners events. He enjoyed pheasant and duck hunting in Nebraska and gardening and fishing at his Big Bear Lake home. He owned a number of commercial properties in Big Bear and was particularly fond of his restaurant, The Captains Anchorage, originally founded by actor Andy Devine many years ago. He and his wife of 71 years, Charlotte, greatly enjoyed the many friends they made at the restaurant and were able to entertain there, at their lake home, and at their Downey residence.

He leaves daughters Pamela Polito (Gregory), Patti Scriven, and Penny Sandberg McMahon (Brian); grandchildren Ashley Polito, Matthew Scriven (Claudia), Mark Polito (Laureen), Joshua Scriven (Kaori), Scott Sandberg  (Randi), Stephen Sandberg, and Jeffrey Sandberg; and great grandchildren Charlotte and Spencer Sandberg. His wife, Charlotte, predeceased him last year and his oldest brother Don of Winnetka, Illinois, is his sole surviving sibling.

He will be remembered most of all for his unselfish, magnanimous, and loving heart that he shared freely with family, friends, and patients.

His memorial service will be at Rose Hills Skyrose Chapel on Sunday, September 20th, at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to PIH Health Hospice, Shriners Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, or Wounded Warriors.