Kendell Gene Woodward, 96, passed away peacefully in his home in Hyde Park, Utah, on May 16, 2026. Ken was born in Logan, Utah, on November 18, 1929, to Rollo William and Hazel Waddoups Woodward. He grew up in Logan alongside his two brothers, Val and Dow, and two sisters, Ann and Ruth.

Ken attended Adams Elementary, Logan Junior High, and Logan High School. An avid athlete, he enjoyed many sports, including football, baseball, skiing, track, wrestling, and golf. Introduced to tennis by his father at a young age, he maintained a lifelong love for the sport, and he cherished time spent with his father and brothers fishing and hunting pheasants and ducks.

While in high school, Ken bought a 1928 Model A Ford, famously turning it into a permanent convertible by cutting the top off with a hacksaw. He delighted in driving it up and down seemingly impossible footpaths and steep embankments.

After high school, Ken joined the U.S. Army and spent most of his enlistment in Okinawa. A favorite lifelong memento was a trophy he won on Thanksgiving Day in Okinawa, placing first in an 8-mile footrace against roughly 200 other young servicemen.

A faithful, lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who ministered in various leadership positions, Ken served a mission in the North-Central States Mission, laboring in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Upon his return, he attended Utah State University, where he lettered in track and tennis all four years and earned a degree in agronomy. It was at a Halloween party shortly after his mission that he met Marva Painter. They fell in love and were married on September 15, 1953, in the Logan Temple.

Ken’s work as an agronomist took his family to Pendleton, Oregon; Pocatello, Idaho; Sidney, Nebraska; Bountiful, Utah; and Woodland, California, where he lived for 32 years. Together, he and Marva raised six children: Jayne, Rod, Linda, Sharon, Susie, and Mike. With their children grown, he longed to return to his roots in Cache Valley, prompting a move to Providence, Utah, in 2004. When Marva fell ill with colon cancer, Ken tended to her with absolute devotion until her passing in 2008. Ken later found renewed joy and companionship with Sondra Holmes, whom he married in 2012. Sondra has been a patient and loving companion, providing tender care throughout Ken’s illness and advanced years.

Ken is survived by his wife Sondra, brother Dow and sister Ruth, children Jayne (Steve) Adams, Rod (Mariangels) Woodward, Linda (Rod) Burgess, Sharon (Lary) Duque, Susie (Arielle) Woodward, and Mike (Jennifer) Woodward, step-children DeWayne Holmes (Wendy), Kathleen Hunter (Andy), David Holmes (Homer), Char Benson (Mike), and Chris Draper (Matt), 42 grandchildren, and 56 great-grandchildren.

Ken’s posterity will remember “Papa Ken” for his sense of humor, his perfect drawings of Popeye, his love of fishing, tennis, and Baskin-Robbins ice cream, playing “The Bells of St. Mary” on the piano, reading the Sunday “funnies” out loud, singing favorite songs, winning at card games, and showing up to their various sports, music, and other events.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Greenville Chapel, 2540 N 400 E, North Logan. Viewings will be held on Friday, May 29, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, Logan, and again on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 am at the Greenville Chapel before the service.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.