1965. Woodward retired in 1965. He died of heart failure at his home in Washington, D.C. on May 18, 2001, at the age of 92. References Christopher Marquis, "Robert F. Woodward, 92; Was Envoy to Latin America", New York Times, May 22, 2001 1908 births 2001 deaths United States Assistant Secretaries of State People from Minneapolis University of Minnesota alumni Ambassadors of the United States to Costa Rica Ambassadors of the United States to Uruguay Ambassadors of the United States to Chile Ambassadors of the United States to Spain United States Foreign Service personnel 20th-century American diplomats