Leon "Van" Woodrow, 78, passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 10th at home surrounded by love. (His death was  non-Covid related.) He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Irma Louise Carmickle Woodrow, and a daughter, Jennifer Woodrow. Survivors also include a sister, Judy (Dr. Charles) Wethington of Lexington, a nephew, Kennan (Therese) Wethington of Lexington, a cousin, Mary Ullrich of Nicholasville, a great-niece, Anna Wethington, and great-nephews, Charlie Wethington and Chase and Sean Moon. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Gwen (VanDriel) and Leon Woodrow of Danville; his niece, Lisa Wethington Moon of Marietta, Georgia, and parents-in-laws, Virginia  (Douglas) and Howard Carmickle of Moreland.

Van was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma. His parents moved to Evanston, IL when he was 3 years old then to Danville in 1949 where his father assisted in managing Sellers Engineering Company. He attended Edna Toliver Grade School in Danville and Kentucky Military Institute (KMI), with campuses in Lyndon, Kentucky and Venice, Florida, and graduated in 1962. He attended Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Danville and later attended Burgin Baptist Church with his wife, Irma. As a youth, he enjoyed working at the Starlight Drive-In and Sellers Engineering. He then became the owner/operator of Fourth Street Coin Laundry and later Van's Camper Sales, Inc. where he and his wife retired in 2011. After retirement, he enjoyed spending more time with his friends and family as well as the winter months at their home in Florida with his sweetheart.

Van never met a stranger. He had an unbelievable memory and was a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor. He grew up loving the outdoors: boating, scuba diving, and camping (in his younger years) as well as hunting and fishing. He enjoyed traveling with his friends to hunt/fish whether it be in the United States, Mexico, or Canada.  Van's most favorite hunt was September's dove season when he would host shoots on their "little farm" outside of  Burgin. He was one of the founding members of the Boyle County Goose Hunting Club and a member of Ducks Unlimited. Likewise, Van enjoyed watching tv/movies and sports of many kinds. He was an avid UK football and basketball fan and the Danville Admirals football team in which he missed very few games throughout the years.  He lived a very blessed, enriched life ~ He will be missed.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Eddie Caldwell, Tom Christopher, Mike Cunningham, Lindon Estes, Richard Kettles, Harold Martin, Farris Mason, Bobby Newby, Mike Robinson, and Billy Wilson.

Visitation will be from 1 – 2 PM on Sunday, November 21 st at Burgin Baptist Church. A Memorial Service will follow at 2 PM with Pastor Carl McCray and Tom Christopher officiating.  Masks are not mandatory yet appreciated.

A special thank you to his doctors and medical staff at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and his care teams from Ephraim McDowell Home Health and Heritage Hospice.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial contributions are suggested to Burgin Baptist Church Family Life Center, P.O. Box 266, Burgin, KY 40310 o r Heritage Hospice, P.O. Box 212, Danville, KY 40423.