Obituary for Rev. Roger W. Wootton
The Reverend Roger William Wootton 1925-2021
Age 95, of Brooksby Village, Peabody, MA, formerly of Malden, MA, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 3rd, 2021. Born in Cleveland, OH, on October 19th, 1925 to George S. and Bertha Schultz Wootton, he was once told by his seminary roommate, Warren Skipp, “Wootton, you’ve never had an unmeaningful experience in your life!”
Father Wootton leaves behind his four children, Shoba Satya (nee Juliana Wootton) and her wife, Hania Cennerazzo, George Wootton and his wife, Jeannette Norton, Mary Wootton and her husband Richard Barvainis, and Nicholas Wootton and his wife Jill Wootton. He also leaves six grandchildren, nephews Fredrick Wootton and Jeffrey Wootton, and his companion, Carolyn Caci. Father Wootton was predeceased by his brother Gerald Wootton, wife Jane Ellen Passant Owens, and his former wife Gladys Marie Slocum Wootton Bubnowitz.
After serving in the Air Force during WWII, as a pilot and flight officer, promoted to Second Lieutenant, he attended Ohio State University. At the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA he attained a Master of Divinity. Ordained into the priesthood, he was rector of St John’s in Cambridge, OH. As rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, MA, he lead the parish from meeting in the Acton town hall to building the church they use today. He was then assistant rector for St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Malden, MA, retiring in 1990. He retired and returned to priestly service untold times. After retiring for the last time as an Episcopal Priest, Father Wootton was received into the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter of the Roman Catholic Church.
Father Wootton enjoyed history, politics and traveling, visiting England, the Holy Land and Africa. He practiced photography, stained glass, and studied family history. He enjoyed acting in community theater and played ‘Mister March’ in the Concord Players production of Little Women. Besides writing decades of sermons, he wrote two volumes of personal history for his family. As a young child he spent summers living with his maternal family in New Orleans, LA, and was full of stories of the lore and magic of that place. On August 28, 1963 he marched, in the pivotal March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he heard King’s I Have a Dream speech. He was a life-long Democrat, always supporting the political causes that he cared about. He often surprised his family and friends with his unique political opinions. Father Wootton loved the Truth. Most recently he was an enthusiastic supporter of Elizabeth Warren.
Family, colleagues, and friends will gather to honor and remember Father Wootton’s life for his wake in The Church of The Good Shepherd, 164 Newtown Rd. Acton, Tuesday, June 8th from 4-7 pm. His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church 71 Central St., Stoneham, MA 02180 Wednesday, June 9th at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, 104 Concord Road, Acton.
In lieu of flowers, gifts of any kind may be made to Elizabeth Warren, Alley Cat Allies, or The Anglican Ordinariate Parish of Saint Gregory the Great; c/o Mr. Kevin McDermott, 137 Seven Star Road, Groveland, MA 01834
www.actonfuneralhome.com
Age 95, of Brooksby Village, Peabody, MA, formerly of Malden, MA, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 3rd, 2021. Born in Cleveland, OH, on October 19th, 1925 to George S. and Bertha Schultz Wootton, he was once told by his seminary roommate, Warren Skipp, “Wootton, you’ve never had an unmeaningful experience in your life!”
Father Wootton leaves behind his four children, Shoba Satya (nee Juliana Wootton) and her wife, Hania Cennerazzo, George Wootton and his wife, Jeannette Norton, Mary Wootton and her husband Richard Barvainis, and Nicholas Wootton and his wife Jill Wootton. He also leaves six grandchildren, nephews Fredrick Wootton and Jeffrey Wootton, and his companion, Carolyn Caci. Father Wootton was predeceased by his brother Gerald Wootton, wife Jane Ellen Passant Owens, and his former wife Gladys Marie Slocum Wootton Bubnowitz.
After serving in the Air Force during WWII, as a pilot and flight officer, promoted to Second Lieutenant, he attended Ohio State University. At the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA he attained a Master of Divinity. Ordained into the priesthood, he was rector of St John’s in Cambridge, OH. As rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, MA, he lead the parish from meeting in the Acton town hall to building the church they use today. He was then assistant rector for St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Malden, MA, retiring in 1990. He retired and returned to priestly service untold times. After retiring for the last time as an Episcopal Priest, Father Wootton was received into the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter of the Roman Catholic Church.
Father Wootton enjoyed history, politics and traveling, visiting England, the Holy Land and Africa. He practiced photography, stained glass, and studied family history. He enjoyed acting in community theater and played ‘Mister March’ in the Concord Players production of Little Women. Besides writing decades of sermons, he wrote two volumes of personal history for his family. As a young child he spent summers living with his maternal family in New Orleans, LA, and was full of stories of the lore and magic of that place. On August 28, 1963 he marched, in the pivotal March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he heard King’s I Have a Dream speech. He was a life-long Democrat, always supporting the political causes that he cared about. He often surprised his family and friends with his unique political opinions. Father Wootton loved the Truth. Most recently he was an enthusiastic supporter of Elizabeth Warren.
Family, colleagues, and friends will gather to honor and remember Father Wootton’s life for his wake in The Church of The Good Shepherd, 164 Newtown Rd. Acton, Tuesday, June 8th from 4-7 pm. His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church 71 Central St., Stoneham, MA 02180 Wednesday, June 9th at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, 104 Concord Road, Acton.
In lieu of flowers, gifts of any kind may be made to Elizabeth Warren, Alley Cat Allies, or The Anglican Ordinariate Parish of Saint Gregory the Great; c/o Mr. Kevin McDermott, 137 Seven Star Road, Groveland, MA 01834
www.actonfuneralhome.com