Darwin Woodbury

TREMONTON-Darwin Stanley Woodbury, 85, died November 7, 2014 from natural causes. He was surrounded by his loving family who wished him well as he left this life for a new adventure.

He was born March 13, 1929 in LaVerkin, Utah to Glen Parker and Hazel Button Woodbury. He attended high school in Cedar City and graduated from Hurricane High School. He received his Associate Degree from BAC (Southern Utah University), his Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University, his Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Educational Administration from the University of Utah. He taught and coached at Duchesne and Richfield high schools and then went to Snow College as Athletic Director and basketball coach. Darwin was an administrator at Midwestern College in Denison, Iowa, and was appointed Administrative Vice President. After three years he chose to return to his beloved Utah and became principal of Bear River High School in Garland/Tremonton, Utah. He completed his career as Assistant Superintendent for the Box Elder School District. In post-retirement Darwin spent eight years of volunteer service on energy conservation in schools for the Utah State Office of Education and Utah Energy Office. He also served on the Advisory Council for the College of Education at Utah State University for three years.

Darwin was an accomplished athlete who enjoyed many sports. He lettered in basketball, football, baseball and track, and was named to the BAC sports hall of fame. He was the last Utah State University athlete to letter in three sports. He declined an inquiry from the Chicago Cubs baseball club in order to stay home and raise his family. Darwin and his brothers still hold the Utah Brothers Basketball Championship title.

Darwin was very active in community service. He was president of two Lions Clubs in Ephraim and Tremonton, UT. He became a District Governor in Lions International which resulted in his attendance at Lions conventions in Nice, France and Miami, Florida. He was active in the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation and served as its president.

He was a member of the LDS Church and especially enjoyed teaching the Tremonton sixth ward High Priest quorum for many years. Darwin will also be remembered for the many hours he spent visiting the sick and needy. He loved people and enjoyed brightening their days. He donned a Santa Claus suit during the holidays and took many a request from a bright-eyed child (and a few adults).

Darwin is survived by his wife Colleen, his children David and Janet Woodbury, Judy and Dean Mortimer, Don and Dearwyn Woodbury, Kim and Jon Miller, fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, his brother Charlie Woodbury and sister, Glenna Boden.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 14, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Tremonton Stake Center (660 N. 300 E.) There will be a viewing held prior to the funeral from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the church, and on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home (111 N. 100 E., Tremonton) Interment will occur at the Tremonton Riverview Cemetery.