Larry Donald Woodruff, born October 1, 1939, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2024, surrounded by his wife and kids, who adored him and filled his life with love and laughter.  He lived a full and rich life, with unique opportunities.  From working on the White Sands missile range on the Athena rocket precursor to playing semi-professional basketball in Germany to being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitcher to receiving professional recognition in hospital administration, all the while rebuilding and drag racing classic muscle cars and coaching his kids’ sports teams, Larry’s life had real range.

Larry was, at his core, a small-town country boy, a product of his upbringing in rural Colorado and New Mexico.  He had a lifelong love of Louis L’Amour western novels and southwest Native American artwork and culture.  As a child, he was a crack shot with a rifle and rid many a farmer’s field of vermin jack rabbits and snakes.  He also demonstrated as a young child that he was a sports enthusiast.  Larry never met a sport he didn’t like and excelled at most (except skiing).  As a high school student, he was the consummate scholar athlete, starring on his school’s basketball and baseball teams.

After high school, Larry served as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central German Mission for 2.5 years, where he connected with his family heritage (his German grandparents spoke German to him as a child).  He was recruited to play basketball on a semi-pro team, and with his Mission President’s permission, he spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through dazzling ball skills, blazing court speed, and old school hook shots.  After completing his mission, he finished a bachelor’s degree in political science with a mathematics minor at Brigham Young University.

After working as a financial analyst at GE in New Jersey and California, he later returned to BYU to earn a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on healthcare finance.  Larry met people during this time that influenced the rest of his life, most importantly was the love of his life, Janice Lorraine Hart, who was quickly won over by Larry’s dashing smile and sleek convertible.  The two were married in the Oakland LDS Temple on June 22, 1971.

After short stints in California and Arizona, Larry accepted a job in the Seattle area.  Larry and Janice spent the next phase of life in Seattle and southern Oregon raising their five beautiful kids: Sarena, Tyson, Kyle, Todd, and Alyson.  Larry was the epitome of the devoted father, coaching them in every sport, teaching them about the joys of yard work, and helping them with their math homework, much to their dismay.  His kids were a high priority: he rarely missed a sports game, a dance or chorus recital, an awards night, a school event, or any endeavor that involved his kids.  He took them on road trips, introduced them to his myriad scrambled egg concoctions, lovingly dominated them in Hearts and ping pong, and regularly treated them to movies and home-made milkshakes.

Larry was nearly superhuman in his energy level.  It took until he was in his late fifties until his kids could regularly beat him at one-on-one basketball.  Even in his early 60s, he conquered unrestored sections of China’s Great Wall and Yellow Mountain, which is known for its sheer cliffs.  As he slowed down, Larry found joy in his wife and family (which includes 20 grandchildren), Tai Chi, action movies, and books.  Larry will be remembered fondly and missed greatly by all who knew him.

Family and friends are invited to gather at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 10th, at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, UT preceding funeral services at the same place beginning at 11:00 a.m.. Burial services will immediately follow.