Charles “Chuck” Woodling

Chuck Woodling, longtime sports editor, beloved husband, father and grandfather, esteemed mentor, and semi-feared slow-pitch softball pitcher, died Nov. 1, 2017, after a nearly four-year battle with acute myeloid leukemia and its complications. He was 76.

Born on October 9, 1941 in Kansas City, Mo., Chuck was the son of Charles Franklin Woodling II and Dorothy Putman Woodling. Chuck graduated from Southwest High School, where he was the editor of the school paper as a senior; from Kansas City, Mo., Junior College; and from the University of Missouri with a Bachelors of journalism.

It was at KCJC that he met Carolyn McCandless. Both were on the stage for a pre-Christmas program sponsored by the school’s language departments. “I was in the German sing-a-ding and Carolyn McCandless warbled French,” Chuck recalled in a reminiscence for his family. “Afterward, she couldn’t find her winter coat. With good reason. I had hidden it.”

In the months after his MU graduation, Chuck joined the Army Reserves and went to work as a general assignment reporter at the Hutchinson (Kan.) News. In December 1964, he made the career-altering move to the News sports staff. He joined the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star in 1966 and, in fall 1968, accepted Dolph Simons’ offer to become sports editor of the Lawrence Journal-World.

“How could I say no?” he wrote. “After all, I would cover major college sports and we would be nearer KC.”

Chuck and Carolyn celebrated their 53rd anniversary in June. She survives, as do daughters Carrie Dixon (Gerry) of Franklin Lakes, N.J., and Gena Woodling (Jonathan De La Concepción) of Lawrence – which is only right, since they already had survived his … um … aggressive annual vacation planning.

“I don’t know if I can even put into words how awesome he was,” Gena said. “He was the absolute best dad, in spite of – and because of – the things that bugged us so much. Like on vacation, we rarely did anything touristy like other people. He’d just say, “You don’t want to go there.”

At home, same deal, same fabled guy.

“Kids from the neighborhood came to our door to ask him to come out to play instead of Carrie or me,” Gena said. “He was phenomenal with young people. So fun to be around.

Also surviving are his brothers, Bob Woodling of Redmond, Wash., and Dennis Woodling, of Marietta, Ga.; and his grandchildren, Katie and Blake Dixon.

“He adored his grandchildren, traveling frequently to visit them in New York and New Jersey,” Carrie said. “From quad rides to boat rides, to his one and only trip down a water slide, he loved spending time with them. He introduced them to minor league baseball when they were toddlers, took them on picnics and to “interesting” historical sites. He loved to tease Katie as he always did with his daughters, and he bonded with Blake over fantasy league strategies, player analysis and statistics.”

Since his death, Facebook and Twitter have shuddered under the weight of tributes to Chuck, who touched the lives of athletes, readers, colleagues and protégés in 37 years as J-W sports editor.

Peers recalled his professionalism and hailed him as a pillar of a golden age of regional sports journalism. Friends recounted his quick and wry wit. Fans remembered his columns as must-read newspapering.

He was named Kansas Sports Writer of the Year in 1988 and again in 2003 in voting of his peers. Unofficially, he was a Big Eight Skywriters first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He authored “Against All Odds,” a book recounting Kansas’ improbable journey to the 1988 NCAA championship, although he once stridently declared to the J-W newsroom that “’Lonesome Dove’ is the greatest book ever written.”

He was a devastating Trivial Pursuit opponent (who else comes up with “Zasu Pitts”?), an enthusiastic traveler (he visited all 50 state capitals and scores of national parks, forts, obscure national monuments and minor-league parks), and, of course, a sports fan (especially of baseball).

He played on the Journal-World slow-pitch team from 1969 until he retired after the summer of 2001, spending most of his years at pitcher. “I couldn’t run and couldn’t hit, but I could get the ball over the plate and back up third base.”

Afterward in the parking lot, he was the patriarch of a tight-knit work family, always enjoying one, and only one, Bud Light.

He retired as sports editor in 2005 but continued as a part-time sports writer until 2010. Having already spent more than 30 years serving on the Junior Achievement board of directors and teaching countless JA classes, he took advantage of retirement to volunteer with United Way, the Lawrence Visitor Center and Just Food. He also taught youth Sunday School classes at First Presbyterian Church as well as serving on the FPC finance and stewardship committee.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 18, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence.

The family suggests memorial donations to the First Presbyterian Church Youth Program, 2415 Clinton Pkwy., Lawrence, Kan. 66047, or Junior Achievement of Kansas (https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-kansas/donate-now) and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

15 Condolences

  1. Lois Singman Bernstein on November 4, 2017 at 11:07 am

    On behalf of the Southwest High School class of 1959,please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of our classmate, Chuck.



  2. Peter Albert on November 4, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    My heartfelt condolences to Carolyn, Carrie, Gina, and the entire Woodling/Rockwood family.



  3. Mary Lou and Ed Almanza on November 4, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    So sorry to hear that Chuck has passed away! He was a great person to know! I always enjoyed talking with him at school events and activities. Chuck always added great humor and witt to our conversations! Thoughts and prayers to Carolyn, Carrie, Gina and the entire family at this difficult time! He will be missed!
    Mary Lou and Ed Almanza



  4. Carol Langston on November 4, 2017 at 11:01 pm

    So sorry to hear of Mr Woodling’s passing. May God be with you and your family Carolyn. He was a very caring man.



  5. John Lewis on November 5, 2017 at 9:01 am

    A good person has left us and my thoughts and prayers are with the family. May your faith and beliefs keep you strong. Your family and friends are here for you.



  6. Sherrie Norwood on November 5, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    My condolences to Carolyn, Gena and Carrie. God Bless



  7. Scott Meyer on November 6, 2017 at 9:03 am

    On behalf of my Father and family, I offer my condolences. My Father’s respect for Chuck could not be measured in my words. I also want to offer to Carolyn, Carrie & Gina our prayers and deepest sympathies. We lost one of the great men this week.



  8. Rich Spickler on November 6, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    My condolences to the family. As an in-law to the family, I only met Chuck a few times. But during my years of genealogy research, his name came up many times. Few of us leave the legacy that Chuck did. May the peace of our lord be with you.



  9. Marilyn Rockwood on November 8, 2017 at 10:07 am

    I’ll miss you so much dear cousin. You brought so much love, humor and sense of family cohesiveness to our family. You’ fought the good fight against that monster disease with grace. My love to Carolyn,, Carrie, Gena and their families. Marilyn Rockwood



  10. Lawrence Sinks on November 9, 2017 at 7:26 am

    I Worked with Chuck at the JW for many years and played softball with him. Was a great person and had a lot of fun on the field. Saddened to hear off his passing. Condolences to Carolyn and the girls.



  11. Cheryl Wonnell on November 9, 2017 at 8:35 am

    I’m still having a time believing Chuck is gone. We’ve been friends for probably 30 years as we both loved sports and I was working at KU during the games. But the last 3 1/2 years we grew closer as buddies as we battled AML Leukemia and bone marrow transplants together. We both had lots of issues with Graft vs Host disease which can come from having a bone marrow transplant. We both & Carolyn have made countless trips to KUMC and the Westwood Cancer center. A week before he died, he was coming out of BMT and I was waiting to go in. We fist bumped and chatted a few minutes. He would cheer me up when I was having infusions and hopefully I cheered him up when he was. I will miss him so much. He was one special guy. Thinking of you Carolyn and the family. May God give you peace through this time of grief.



  12. Ward Harkavy on November 10, 2017 at 7:55 am

    I worked with Chuck from 1976-79 at the J-W. Great colleague, memorable wiseass without the bitter edge. All best to Carolyn.

    It’s nice to see the tributes to Chuck on Twitter.



  13. David and Diana Ice on November 10, 2017 at 9:10 am

    We are saddened to learn of Chuck’s passing. Our daughters have been friends since their days at Deerfield Elementary. We always enjoyed Chuck’s columns in the Journal World. Carolyn, Gena and Carrie, may God comfort you and give you peace now and in the days to come.



  14. Lisa Ball, Mike and Logan Grose on November 12, 2017 at 7:38 am

    Chuck was a wonderful and funny spiritual mentor to our son, Logan. We appreciate all the time he put into cultivating the children and youth of First Presbyterian Church.



  15. gary bedore on November 13, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    Condolences to everybody in the family. Chuck was the best and we’ll never ever forget him.



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