Lon Woodard

After a valiant struggle with cancer, Lon Gerald Woodard, 63, passed away at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho on Friday, September 3rd, surrounded by his loving family.
Lon was born on July 16, 1947 in Los Angeles, California to Fredrick and Burniece Woodard. He grew up in Norwalk, California and graduated from Excelsior High School in 1965. After high school, Lon attended Cerritos Junior College, then went on to play football at San Diego State with the great Don Coryell. The Aztecs were the undefeated NCAA Champions in 1969, and the team was later inducted into the College Hall of Fame. Lon credits Coryell not only for his football career, but for impressing on Lon the values and discipline that guided his life. Lon was drafted out of college by the New Orleans Saints in 1970 and played defensive end with the Saints for two years.
After football, Lon began his long career in real estate development in Southern California. Lon and his family moved to Idaho in 1992, but business ties kept him commuting between California and Idaho for several years.
Fly fishing was Lon’s passion. His favorite career was owning Drifters from 1995 to 2001. Drifters was a fly fishing outfitting company on the South Fork of the Snake River in Swan Valley, Idaho. As a consummate fly fisherman, Lon’s favorite days were spent in a drift boat on the South Fork.
After selling Drifters, Lon joined an archeological expedition, hiking 50 miles into the jungles of Guatemala to newly discovered Mayan ruins. There, he established camp for the archeologists.
Scouting was another of his passions. Lon was a Scout Master in the Wood River Valley with the leadership achievement of Wood Badge, and it was with great pride that he saw two of his sons achieve the rank of Eagle.
His Harley Davidson gave Lon tremendous enjoyment, and his participation in the Patriot Guard accorded him meaning and purpose.
Lon was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and received great pleasure from serving the Lord. He was a member of Malibu Presbyterian Church for many years before joining the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum, Idaho.
Lon is survived by his wife: Marilyn Martin; children: Sheri Thomsen (Scott), Lon Junior (Claudia), Matthew, and Christopher; and grandchildren: Sydney, Lauren, Gabriella, and Aaron.
Memorial services will be held at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, on Saturday, September 11th, at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Cancer society at https://www.cancer.org/Involved/Donate/
or to the cause of your choice.