Jim WoodardVentura, CAJim Woodard, age 88, died on 2/22/2017 in Ventura, California of Parkinson's related causes. He was born on June 27, 1928, in Des Moines, Iowa. His parents were Ethel and Floyd Woodard, MD, a medical doctor in Des Moines for many years. Jim is probably best known for writing newspaper columns and storytelling during the last couple of decades of his working life. He wrote a nationally syndicated column on real estate for 45 years, and a business and real estate columns for the Ventura Star. He was the resident storyteller at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, among other venues. And he directed a Storytelling Club at the Ventura Boys and Girls Club for over 22 years. Earlier, he held on-air positions at radio and TV stations and worked as a counselor at Boys Town, Nebr. He established a PR agency in Santa Barbara, Calif. He also served as chairman of the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Justice Commission. Surviving are his wife, Virginia, of Ventura; daughter, Katrina Leffler, of Palm Springs, Calif.; son, Josef Woodard and wife Peggy Grossman, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; daughter, Loraine Woodard and husband Joel Villasenor of Oakland, Calif.; and son, David Woodard and wife Sonja Vectomov, of Prague, Czech Republic. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Nicole Jackson, Rob Campoy, Sam Woodard, Claire Woodard, Ruben Villasenor, Emily Villasenor, Melia Woodard, and step-granddaughter, Lumi Vectomov. One great-grandson also survives: Finn Jackson. He also has a brother, John Woodard, MD, now living in Temecula, Calif. He was a member of Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura, Calif. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 2nd at Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA.