Obituary of Woodrow Lester Wentworth "Woody"

Our beloved Woodrow Lester Wentworth "Woody," age 43, was called to our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.  He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Harrell Wentworth.

Born in Dallas and raised in Austin, Woody Wentworth was surrounded and influenced by many of the great Texas music legends since a child. His father, Anthony Wentworth, introduced him to the blues and they often listened together to artists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Arriving in Austin in the mid '80's, at eight years of age one of the first people Woody met was the infamous singer/songwriter Blaze Foley. Soon afterwards, he and a large group of kids found themselves on stage with Blaze at the beloved landmark Austin venue, "Liberty Lunch", singing Blaze’s “Girl Scout Cookies”. Woody was hooked.

Living with his mom, Tera Allison, growing up in Austin during those early years he was influenced by artists such as Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, B.W. Stevenson, Robert Earl Keen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, J.J. Cale, Shake Russell, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Willie Nelson, as well as the legendary Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley, who were close family friends.

He first picked up a guitar at the age of thirteen, learning a few chords from his uncle. He took to the instrument naturally and became proficient in a very short time, though he was almost entirely self-taught and had no formal training.

His first original song, "Desert Wind" was written when he was only fourteen years of age.  

As a teenager and as a young man, Woody spent many warm summer nights around the campfires of the Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country, playing guitar and singing the songs of his favorite songwriters, as well as his own originals. It was at one of those campfires that he first heard and was inspired by songwriter Jon Ims, as Jon showcased his latest song “She’s In Love With the Boy”, later recorded by Trisha Yearwood.

Like his namesake, Woody Guthrie - and in the true troubadour style - Woody traveled extensively, always with his guitar in hand. New Mexico to New Orleans; New York to L.A.; Kerrville to Key West – all along the road he continued to cultivate a wide range of musical influences, and to gain many new friends along the way.

Over the years – and the miles – he found himself backstage and/or onstage with Jerry Garcia, Joe Ely, Arlo Guthrie, The Rolling Stones, Cake, Kenny Chesney, and was even briefly on a tour bus with Slim Shady. While never receiving the professional acclaim he was so deserving of, he was content to jam with the likes of Jack Johnson, Jimbo Mathus, Robert Earl Keen and Amy Winehouse, among others.

As a street performer in Austin, Texas, Key West, Florida and New Orleans he developed a loving and loyal following of hundreds of fans.

With a wanderlust spirit and an eclectic musical background, Woody was a sensitive and insightful soul who loved people and lived life “on the edge”.

Hard livin’. Hard travelin’.

In the words of Steve Earle (one of his most influential artists) he truly was “The Last of the Hard-Core Troubadours”.

Woody is survived by his loving mother, Tera Allison; sister, Cheyenne Allison; nephew Alex Garcia; soul mate Debra Hollinshead; and many other loving family and friends

Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., Monday, September 23, 2019 with a Celebration of Life beginning at 6:00 p.m., at Mission Funeral Home - South Side, 6204 S. First St., Austin, Texas.

A Gathering of Remembrance will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2019, also at Mission Funeral Home - South Side.  Interment will follow at Live Oak Cemetery, 200 Twin Creeks Rd, Manchaca, Texas.

The family has established a GoFundMe Memorial Funeral Fund page to help offset the funeral and burial expense.  In advance the family is so very grateful for your love and support during this difficult time.  May God bless and keep you.