Sam D. Woodard

Sam Woodard Obituary A memorial ceremony honoring Sam D. Woodard will be held Friday, July 8th at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2550 E. 71st Street in Tulsa at 10:00 am. Inurnment will follow at the Green Hill Cemetery Mausoleum in Sapulpa. Sam passed away early Wednesday morning, June 29, 2022 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was 77 years old. Born September 16, 1944 in Douglas, Arizona, Sam was the son of Bruce and Lorraine (Robb) Woodard. He came from very humble beginnings near the Mexican border. While in high school, Sam played baseball and loved being in the band. His work ethic was apparent from an early age - he served as a batboy for the local farm baseball club, setting pins in the bowling alley, and as a clerk in the neighborhood grocery store. Sam maintained this great work ethic to provide for his family throughout his entire lifetime, and passed his legacy of hard work down to his kids and grandkids. Following high school, Sam attended THE University of Arizona – certainly not to be confused with the other “secondary” state university. It was there he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Sam would remain heavily involved in politics through the years, volunteering for the campaigns of Marco Rubio and Jim Bridenstine amongst many others. You could regularly find him on the frontline knocking on doors and doing whatever was necessary to “sway” the vote! Most recently, Sam strongly supported Glenn Beck’s 9-12 project, a group formed to bring the red states and blue states together. The Republican Party undoubtedly lost one of its staunchest supporters. As a father, Sam’s memory will be cherished forever by his children, Jake and Liz. He was so supportive of everything they endeavored. From Jake’s athletics to Liz’s cheerleading, Sam was always there. The passion for sports and his family carried on with his grandchildren’s activities even from out of state or overseas. Trips were planned around soccer tournaments, and he even learned to be a beach volleyball fan, traveling as far as Florida to watch his granddaughter play in her college’s national championship. While living in a Tulsa condo, Sam would meet his soon to be wife, Beverly. Becoming quick friends, Beverly invited Sam to Thanksgiving dinner in 1991…..and he never left! The couple were married October 30, 1992 in Branson, Missouri. Sam spent the majority of his career as a regional manager for Ecolab. He took pride in his work, and could talk for hours about it, even years after retirement. His busy mind and love of travel kept them moving as Sam and Bev spent the better part of a decade working for TracScan, a NASCAR affiliate. Though it was hard work, they really enjoyed seeing the country while cherishing their time together. Sam and Beverly continued to travel through the years, taking several trips to Europe, as well as a few Viking cruises. As a University of Arizona Alumni, Sam remained a strong supporter of their athletic programs. He was a beekeeper earlier in life and spent much of his spare time working in his yard and ‘rehoming’ the blasted moles who tried to ruin it. A devoted member of his church, Sam served on the board of directors, as an usher and greeter for several years, and always looked forward to his weekly coffee group, “the Roustabouts.” Most mornings, you could find Sam walking his dog, Dash, at Haikey Park - followed by a trip to Panera where Dash’s favorite cookies were served. Surviving family members include his wife, Beverly; his children, Jake Woodard and wife, Julie; and Liz Toribio; as well as his grandchildren, Caleb, Kyleigh, Noah, and Mia. Sam was preceded in death by his parents; Lorraine Braden and Bruce Woodard. Please consider contributions to be made to: Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2550 E. 71st Street, Tulsa, OK. 74136. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sam D. Woodard, please visit our floral store. Read More

Sam D. Woodard

September 16, 1944 - June 29, 2022