Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 18 January 1914, Admiral Woodville gained an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1932, graduating with the class of 1936. His first tour was on the heavy cruiser Astoria, later in the U.S. Asiatic Fleet on destroyers and one year on the Yangtze River Patrol. Returning from Asia on the USS Augusta, he served on her for about a year during the outbreak of WWII.

In early 1942, aboard the seaplane tender Casco, he saw his first action in the Aleution Islands. The Japanese submarine R0-61, relieved that a protective destroyer had left, fired its last two torpedoes at the Casco, nearly sinking her. Her commanding officer was able to beach the ship where it was later re-floated and repaired. Surviving this, then Lt. Woodville was assigned to a new constuction destroyer, the USS Ordronaux to serve as her Executive Officer. From the commissioning of DD617 in February 1943 to January 1944 he fulfilled his tasks in this capacity. With the departure of CDR. Brodie, CDR Woodville assumed command of the ship and led it through the Anzio assaults,and the invasion of Southern France. He returned briefly to the states in September 1944 to marry Miss Polly Curtiss of Boston. The crew remembers the skipper treating them to a fully catered meal in New York in celebration of this happy occasion. Back at sea, CDR. Woodville eventually took Ordronaux to Japanese waters in the closing days of WWII. After occupation duty he took his ship into deactivation at Charleston, South Carolina.

His first shore duty was from 1946-1949 as an instructor on the staff at the General Line School in Newport, RI. I was back to sea as XO of the repair ship Amphion during the Korean Conflict, followed by a stint at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. He held several staff positions after this including a member of the SHAPE staff in Paris, France. As a Captain he became commander of Destroyer Division 102 in October 1956. Later he served as skipper of the USS Salamonie (AO-26) until 1959. Then it was back to Washington DC for another staff tour finishing up his naval career in the Office of Naval Intelligence in September of 1962. He was promoted to Rear Admiral upon his retirement.

With his wife and family he moved to the Winchester, VA area where he set up his own business. He passed away in 1987.

As a skipper of the Mighty O, Admiral Woodville is remembered as a stern but fair enforcer of naval regulations and an accomplished ship handler. Behind his rigid exterior the men sensed a man who cared deeply for the Ordronaux and her crew. There was never any doubt that he was the one who would bring them home.