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A service for ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Professor David O. Woodyard will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, at Swasey Chapel. ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ religion professors and reverends John L. Jackson and K. Christine Pae will preside over the service, with The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas ‘79 providing special remarks. A reception in Knobel Hall will immediately follow the service.

Woodyard dedicated his career to his students and the intersection of faith, ethics, and social responsibility. For more than six decades, he challenged students to examine the role of religion — and themselves — in society, earning their respect and admiration. On the occasion of his 50th year of teaching, Woodyard’s former students put the call out to their classmates and compiled a thick book of letters, thanking him for the impact he had on their lives.

When he first joined ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ as dean of the chapel, Woodyard devoted countless hours listening to and offering guidance to students, a tradition he continued when he was appointed chair of the religion department. He chaired key committees, was twice elected chair of faculty, and became a trusted voice for university leadership, and received ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Teaching Excellence Award and multiple Teacher of the Year honors.

Woodyard’s connection to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ began with his own undergraduate experience. He earned his B.A. at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ in 1954, before completing his master of divinity at Union Theological Seminary in 1958 and a doctorate of ministry summa cum laude from Vanderbilt Divinity School. His path to ministry was inspired at an early age by his family’s minister, who was a source of strength after his father, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ alum and trustee Wilfred C. Woodyard ‘16, passed away unexpectedly. A scholarship established in his parents’ name supports financial aid for students.

Beyond campus, Woodyard held leadership roles with several community organizations, including Hospice Services of Licking County, Planned Parenthood of East Central Ohio, and Partners United for Youth at Risk.

An accomplished scholar, Woodyard authored ten books exploring questions of human identity, social justice, and theological reflection. Notable works include Living without God, before God (1968), Beyond Cynicism: The Practice of Hope (1972), and Liberating Privilege: The Breakthrough of God and the Persistence of Normality (2016).

Woodyard’s lifelong ties to the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ community are reflected in his accolades and enduring relationships, from his faithful attendance at basketball games to his role as an officiant for countless weddings of former students who have since become cherished friends.

Woodyard and his adored wife Joanne were married for 70 years. His daughters, Kim, who died in 2024, and Sara of Richmond, Virginia, were the lights of his life. ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s deepest condolences go out to Joanne and Sara. The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ flag will fly at half-staff for three days in his honor.

Information about funeral services . Please leave messages of condolence through the website.