Robert Lynn Woodruff

He leaves his wife of 22 years, Judy Woodruff; his daughters Michele (Garrett), Marie (Woodruff) and Heather (Magdanz); daughter-in-law Leslie (Woodruff), son-in-laws Mark (Garrett) and David (Magdanz), step children Karen (Gogo), Connie (Gogo), Julie (Gogo) and David (Gogo), sister Doris (Andersen), first wife Thelma (Payne); 13 grandchildren - Nicole, Amanda, Evan, Dakota, Hank, Lincoln, Jacob, Rachel, Keagan, Allen, Charles, Brody, Angel and Michael and 2 great grandchildren - Quinton and Delaney as well as many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends.

Robert was predeceased by his son Lee (Woodruff), his parents William and Lucy (Woodruff) and his siblings Bill (Woodruff), Eileen (Lehtonen) and Ted (Woodruff).

Robert was born in Comox in 1934 and over the years resided in several communities on Vancouver Island. He married his high school sweetheart, Thelma May Allen in 1955 and moved to Sayward where they started their family, raising four children together. Sayward was very beloved to him and he was most honoured and proud to be elected Sayward’s first ever Mayor in 1968, serving two terms.

He worked as a logging truck driver for MacMillan Bloedel, Kelsey Bay Division for close to two decades before buying his own logging truck and establishing Woody’s Log Salvaging Company, hiring his son Lee to work alongside him.

Robert was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as playing basketball, hockey and fastball for many years. As a pitcher for the Sayward Loggers he was well known for his “windup”. He cherished his time as a basketball coach to many young Sayward girls’ and boys’ teams, proudly boasting of the glory days whenever opportunity arose. Participating in the annual Sayward Logger Sports Days was a highlight for him as well.

He was a fantastic dancer which is how he came to meet a wonderful lady, Judy Gogo, whom he married in 1994, becoming dance partners for life, and adding four step children to his family circle. Robert and Judy travelled to Alaska, across Canada and to Ireland, fulfilling his lifelong dream to explore his Irish roots and kiss the Blarney Stone. They both shared a love for music which saw them attending several music concerts and Dixieland Jazz festivals over the years.

A Celebration of Life for Robert will be held at a later date and an announcement will be placed in the paper closer to the time.