July 28, 1937 — Nov. 23, 2025
Gary William Woodring left this life in peace Sunday evening, Nov. 23, 2025, at the age of 88, in memory care at the Village at Valley View in Ashland, Oregon.
Born in 1937 in Yankton, South Dakota, the second child of three, to Glen Woodring and Muriel Holtz Woodring. The family migrated to Corvallis, Oregon, when he was 8 years old. He met Shirley Whiteman in high school and they married in 1960.
Gary had three different careers over his long life. Upon graduating in 1955 from Corvallis High School, he went to Oregon State College, getting a degree in Recreation. Upon graduation he got his first job as Parks and Recreation director in Klamath Falls. Then worked for State Parks in Salem, and lastly in Medford, Oregon, where he served with Parks and Recreation for the city. He is responsible for building Bear Creek Park and the beginning of the Bear Creek bike trail. He then got his real estate license and worked as a broker for several years.
When the economy bottomed out in the mid-eighties, Gary returned to parks work in El Dorado County, California. Gary and Shirley moved to Placerville, California. While in California, Gary got his counseling degree and returned to Southern Oregon as a marriage and family counselor, working until his retirement in 2022.
Avocationally, Gary was an avid tennis player and belonged to the USTA most of his life, competing in Northwest Senior tournaments until he was 82. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Ashland, serving as a Eucharistic Minister for several years. He was a devoted and loving father of two, who grew up in Medford schools.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Woodring; his adult children, Gretchen Woodring Savage of Seattle, Washington and Ned Woodring of Beaverton, Oregon; a grandson, Liam Savage and his wife, Carrie Savage of St. Louis, Missouri; and daughter in law, Diane Brandsma of Beaverton; and two nieces, Deane and Joyce Woodring of Portland.
He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Caitlin Savage of Seattle, Washington; his brother, Dean Woodring, Portland; and sister, Carolyn Roche, Eugene.
A celebration of life is tentatively planned for Jan. 17, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal in Ashland, Oregon, at 44 N. Second St., Ashland. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers or the Ashland Comunity Food Bank.
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