Wendell Kenneth Woodthorp

1938 - 2021

Wendell Kenneth Woodthorp
October 13, 1938 - November 12, 2021
Brookdale, California
Wendell Kenneth Woodthorp, 83, of Brookdale, CA, beloved husband, father, brother, and, shepherd, passed away in his home on November 12, 2021.
Wendell was born on October 13, 1938, in Flushing Michigan, the oldest son of Kenneth and, Lou Woodthorp. Wendell has four younger sisters, Darlene, Marilyn, Beverly, and Janet. Wendell was raised in a rural area of Michigan, learning as a young boy to hunt and farm with his father. Wendell was a quiet, tall, reflective boy who often brought home sweets which, apparently, he did not always share with his sisters. From an early age he loved adventure, bicycling, building things, and serving the Lord. He did not like school until he went to college in Indiana at 18, where he distinguished himself as a bright and competent scholar and athlete. He earned his BA at bible college in Fort. Wayne, Indiana. Wendell met the love of his life, Barbara Thompson, while traveling for church work in California, and they married on December 24th, 1959. At 21, newly married with a baby daughter and another on the way, Wendell and Barbara moved to a tiny town named Buck Meadows in the Sierras where Wendell would pastor a small church, finish his education, and teach school. Wendell and Barbara have six children, Lynn, Karen, Katherine, Karol, Kenneth, and Kristyn. Wendell received his Master of Education and moved to Modesto, CA where for many years he was a respected educator and principal. Education was a true calling for Wendell, but his heart became heavy for the youth of his generation whom he felt did not have a place in the traditional church and he felt God calling him to minister to these young people. In 1970 Wendell left his teaching job and went full time into an alternative church ministry called "Church in the Park", an outreach ministry devoted to bringing the truth of the gospel to the youth who were involved in the counterculture of the day. Church in the Park operated for 13 years, (WITH THE COLLABORATION OF OTHER GODLY MEN) touching thousands of lives and bringing marginalized young people to a knowledge of God and the scriptures. (ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE WORK EXPERIENCE AND HOUSING FOR DRUG ADDICTED COMMUNITY - HOMES) Some of these folks that Wendell mentored would start ministries of their own, and most have remained dear friends with Wendell and Barbara and their family. Wendell returned to full-time education in 1984, but he found his spiritual home when he discovered the Eastern Orthodox Church. Wendell and Barbara were baptized into the Orthodox Church in 1998. Just as he had pursued his conviction to serve young people in Church in the Park, Wendell pursued a deepening knowledge of the Orthodox Church, led by a trusted mentor, Fr. John Hardenbrook. Wendell and his wife Barbara forged a deep friendship with Fr. John and Barbara Hardenbrook of blessed memory, and Wendell often said that Fr. John and Barbara "loved" them into the Church.
Wendell felt his biggest accomplishment, outside of his service to God, was bicycling, TWICE, across the United States, with his wife along! Wendell brought most of his family to the Santa Cruz area in 2004 hoping that his entire family would be brought into the life of the Orthodox Church. Wendell taught at St. Simeon(?) and St. Lawrence Academy for several years, and faithfully served the church and its parishioners and their families in multiple capacities. Wendell's desire was for Orthodoxy to be established in every community in America. A true servant and a man of God, Wendell is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Woodthorp, five daughters, Lynn Price, Karen Woodthorp, Katherine Woodthorp, Karol Clark (Bryan Clark), Kristyn Axelsson (Erik Axelsson), one son, Kenneth Woodthorp (Paula Woodthorp) He also leaves twelve grandchildren: Megan Patzke (Stephen Patzke), Samson Aufdermaur, Elias Aufdermaur, Zach Aufdermaur, Chad Price (Mary Price), Saxon Price, Kenny Woodthorp, Sarah Sanchez (Erik Sanchez), Heather Woodthorp, Rachael Woodthorp, Elijah Dunn, Anna Dunn, sixteen great-grandchildren, four sisters, Darlene Slusser (Al), Marilyn Beardsley (Larry) Beverly Stienley (Al of blessed memory), Janet Evanish (Terry), and their children and grandchildren.


View the online memorial for Wendell Kenneth Woodthorp