Obituary for Gary Dean Woodard

Gary Dean Woodard, age 83, of West Milton, Ohio, previously of Kenton, completed his journey to his heavenly home on June 16, 2026.

Services for Gary D. Woodard will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19th at Kenton Alliance Church in Kenton by Rev. Steve Hess. Burial will follow in Grove Cemetery, Kenton.

Visitation will be at Schindewolf-Stout-Crates Funeral home, Kenton 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday June 18th, and one hour prior to the service (10:00 a.m.) at Kenton Alliance Church on June 19th.

Gary was born in Kenton on June 6, 1943 to Donald Dean and Marcella Mae (Windle) Woodard. Gary married Judith “Judy” Ziegler on May 24, 1964 and in 2024 they celebrated 60 years of marriage together. She preceded him in death in November of 2025.

Surviving is his sister, Sherry Ann Greentree. Gary is also survived by his children; Amy Beth, Bonnie (Steve) Brielmaier, and Daniel (Shawna) Woodard, along with grandchildren, Elijah, Anna and Joseph Woodard.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy (Ziegler) Woodard, and his parents, Don and Marcella Woodard.

Gary grew up in rural Kenton, first attending Mount Victory School, and then lived for a short time in Modesto, California attending Tuolumne Elementary School. Gary returned to Hardin County and attended Kenton City Schools, Hardin Central Elementary, and Kenton High School.

Gary was a 1961 graduate of Kenton High School where he was active in vocational agriculture and a member of FFA. He worked one year at Phillips and Davies as an electrician’s assistant, working under Phillip Brielmaier, who unbeknownst to him, was his future son-in-law’s grandfather.

After attending Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, he worked at Westinghouse and ThermoKing in Columbus while Judy completed her nurse’s training. Soon after, the couple returned to Hardin County. Gary retired from Rockwell International in Kenton after thirty-one years. Gary and Judy ran a pick-your-own strawberry patch business for several summers.

Gary especially enjoyed traveling to Alaska with family and spending some winter retirement time in Punta Gorda, Florida with friends and relatives. Gary enjoyed working with electrical and farm-related machinery and equipment. He really enjoyed being a grandfather and loved spending time with his grandchildren and building model train layouts. Gary was especially fond of ice cream and his mother’s delicious homemade pies. He was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Kenton and attended Fairhaven Northmont Alliance Church in Englewood, Ohio.

Memorials may be made to the Kenton Alliance Church or Ohio’s Hospice.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.stoutcrates.com.