Obituary of John T. Wootten

John T. Wootten, 49, of Lakewood, NY formerly of Hilton Head Island, SC and Baltimore, MD, passed away unexpectedly Thursday (June 10, 2010) with his wife by his side. He was born December 4, 1960 in the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC a son of Angus Early and the late Geraldine (Dee) Haithcock Wootten. He had attended Southwestern Cenrtal High School and the Dublin Prepatory School in Dublin, New Hampshire. John had operated the Brokenstraw Oil Corp. in Sugar Grove, PA for several years before moving to Hilton Head, SC where he was the founder of the original Hurricane Harry's Wharf Bar with his First Mate- Jackie "O". He was the recipient of several "Best of the Lowcountry" awards for his innovative concoctions and had many followers for the Tuesday Night Fireworks Music Show. He went on to be the owner/operator of JTW Construction with many projects on Hilton Head, Kiawah Island and Maine. He also served as a Merchant Marine upon arriving in Baltimore and for the past several years had worked with Worcester Eisenbrandt specializing in historic restoration. His works included the American Brewery in Baltimore, The Senate House Buildings and Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, along with the Chapel at Woodstock. His work at the Baltimore School of the Arts won him the coveted Building Congress & Exchange of Metropolitan Baltimore's Craftsmanship award in 2008. He thought of himself as a "Carpenter and a Gentleman" and throughout his life his faith was ever present. He was an avid fisherman and skier who loved everything about the outdoors. He will be remembered as a very kind and gentle man. Surviving is his beloved wife the former Julie A. Moldovan, whom he married June 20, 1981 in Jamestown, NY. He is also survived by his father Angus and stepmother Batya Ruth Wootten of Kissimmee, FL, his siblings, Ann (Tim) Henry of Kennett Square, PA, Trish (Ray) Wahl of Flower Mound, TX, Linda Thomas of Kissimmee, FL, Stephen (Julie) Wootten of VT, Michael (Renee) Wootten of Frederick, VA, David (Christine) Wootten of La Habra, CA, and Traci Wootten of Long Island. He is further survived by his mother in law Pat Moldovan, sister in law Micki (Rex) McCray all of Jamestown as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Dee and a brother Angus "Champ" Wootten, Jr. A memorial service will be held by the family at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 19th, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. A Celebration of Life Reception will be held at a later date on Hilton Head Island. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Hilton Head Humane Association, PO Box 21790, Hilton Head, SC 29925 or to the Ocracoke Working Watermen's Association, PO Box 1689, Ocracoke, NC 27960.