Thomas Miller Woodring

Thomas (Tom) Woodring, who lived a full life, passed away peacefully at 87, with his wife, Letha, and his family by his side in Santa Barbara.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Tom was the youngest of four children of Beulah Lillian Parkin Woodring (1987) and Orville (“Woody”) Woodring (1938). Tom attended Harding Elementary School and La Cumbre Junior High and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1954. While growing up on the Westside, Tom made many lifelong friends, including Ronnie Morris, Joe Bilotta, David Taggert, and Eldon Horst. Before many streets and sidewalks were paved, Tom and his friends set up makeshift pole-vaulting pits and practiced with bamboo poles they made. They also played touch football on those streets and organized track meets. Tom earned varsity letters in track and football in high school.

Tom fondly remembered selling peanuts at Laguna Park for the Dodger’s minor league team and the Santa Barbara News-Press on State Street in his youth. He was also employed in high school for Pepsi and had other odd jobs, including gardening and window washing.

After graduating high school, Tom attended Santa Barbara City College and Brigham Young University (BYU). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959. He continued his academic pursuits by obtaining a master’s degree from San Jose State and a Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Baylor University. While studying at San Jose State, Tom met Steve Ruckman, Tom Watts, and Marty Moloff (2017), who became his lifelong friends.

Tom served in the U.S. Army with honor. After his discharge, he worked as a social worker, deputy probation officer, research analyst for the California Youth Authority, staff psychologist at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, director of the outpatient program in Santa Maria, and director of the conditional release program in Santa Barbara County.

Beginning in the 1950s, long before it was popular with the public, Tom “worked out,” as he would call it, at Santa Barbara City College and everywhere he lived. Those close to Tom remember when he and his former brother-in-law, Louie Velliotes (2004), walked about 50 yards on their hands along Ledbetter Beach and played volleyball at East Beach.

Tom remained active well into his 80s. As a senior athlete, Tom competed in several decathlons. Tom continued pole vaulting until he was 82 years old. He won many local, state, and national master’s competitions. In addition to his avid interest in track, Tom played for the Santa Barbara Condors football team when he was 62. He and Don Paulson continued to play softball together at Eilings Park until he was 86. Together, they were featured in an article for the Santa Barbara Independent by John Zant in March 2021.

Tom contributed to the track community by volunteering as a coach at Santa Barbara City College and Santa Barbara and San Marcos High Schools. He could often be found officiating local track events. Tom and his good friend Steve Morris also organized a series of pole vault competitions at Leadbetter Beach.

Tom had a great passion for playing bridge, and his beloved wife Letha was his partner until he was 87. They loved traveling, and together, they went on many cruises and trips across the United States and Europe. One of Tom’s lifelong dreams was to go on an African safari, and he was thrilled when he and Steve Ruckman finally fulfilled it. Tom loved riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle and touring the Western United States until his mid-80s, including Sturgis.

Tom lived a rich and fulfilling life, which he humbly acknowledged. He never boasted about his accomplishments and talked more about his eagerness to improve. Tom valued his family and friends above everything else and always included them in his activities and travels. He and his brother Don worked out together at LaPlaya Stadium for years. Tom involved his nephews and nieces in tag football games, Frisbee tossing, and body-surfing at the nearby beaches. Tom was also passionate about cooking and loved hosting gatherings with his loved ones.

Tom is predeceased by his elder sister, Marian (2020), and his elder brother, Donald (2021). Tom is survived by his beloved sister, Joan along with his nieces and nephews: Linnea Murphy (Bill), Steve Velliotes (Tuyen), Donna Woodring, Chantel Hallerman (Richard), Vicky Falk, Gina Van Steyn, Darrell Johnston, Guy Parvex (Liz), Don Parvex, (Shannon), Brett Johnston (Danielle) Heidi Medal (Ben), and Christian Kienborts (Lucy) and many grand and great nieces and nephews.

Tom was very appreciative of the residents and staff at Wood Glen Hall, where he lived the last nine months, his caretaker, Brandon Diaz, and the health care professionals with Assisted Living.

Tom will be buried at the Santa Barbara Cemetery at 1:15 p.m. on April 26, 2024. Following, there will be a private celebration of his life.