James Dallas Woodburn, III, MD

Ventura - James Dallas Woodburn, III, M.D. died peacefully at home on July 15, 2024, after a long battle with head and neck cancer. Jim was born on September 13, 1955 in Urbana, Ohio, where he was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Ansel Woodburn. He was raised in Columbus, Ohio, until 1972, when his father moved his surgical practice to Ventura, California. Jim then graduated from Buena High School in 1973, and played goalie on the Varsity Water Polo team that year. He graduated from UCSB in 1977, where he met his wife Kay. They married in 1978 in Los Gatos, California; Jim graduated from New York Medical College in 1982. After serving two years with Public Health at a community clinic in North East Los Angeles, he completed his surgical residency at LA County, USC Medical Center. Jim and Kay moved to Ventura in 1989, where Jim began his surgical practice.

Jim loved being a surgeon, and was happy caring for countless patients in many ways over many years. His desire to be a surgeon began when he was 8 years old, and his father, James Woodburn, II, M.D. took him to watch an appendectomy. In his 35 years practicing medicine in Ventura, he touched the lives of many people. He also loved teaching and mentoring nurses, scrub techs, and students as they began their careers.

The only thing Jim loved more that being a surgeon was his family. He and Kay raised 3 daughters, who all made him proud by going on to lead amazingly wonderful lives. He watched as many soccer games, volleyball meets, water polo games, and swim meets as he could manage, juggling the time with a busy medical practice. He helped at all the swim meets at the Ventura Family YMCA, and taught many of the swimmers how to do racing dives and flip turns. He was most proud though, of being able to walk all three daughters down the aisle when they got married.

He taught scuba diving in Santa Barbara during his college years, and some of our family favorite vacation memories involve all of us scuba diving and snorkeling in many places around the world. Another family favorite vacation place has always been the Zephyr Point Conference Center on the shores of Lake Tahoe, where we spent time every summer.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Dr. James and Audrey Woodburn; he is outlived by his three younger siblings, Doug, Greg and Kym and many nieces and nephews. Jim is survived by his wife, Kay, his daughters, Amanda Rackley, (Justin), Julie Hein, M.D. (Chris), Melissa Kaganovsky, (Konstantin), and his grandchildren, Ryann, James, Audrey, Will, Charlotte, Howie, and Aria.

Services will be at Community Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 30 at 2pm. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Jim, please consider either the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation or the Ventura Family YMCA.