Walter Woodward
Marriages
June Kitson
Eva JoAnn Craig - September 8, 1967
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 14 - July 22, 1993
The late Walt Woodward would have been happy tramping the relatively groomed 2.5 mile nature trail named in his honor last month by the State of Colorado northeast of Radium along Blacktail Creek and Grand County Road 11. But when Woodward first frequented the area years ago, the path curled through dense brush from a different route, one that was worth the hard hike and would lead him to his favorite fishing hole.
"I know he would have been honored and proud," said Woodward's wife, Jo Ann, adding with a laugh: "But I don't know if he would have been too thrilled telling everybody about his favorite fishing place."
According to JoAnn, plans call for lengthening the trail to 4.5 miles through the countryside the Woodwards enjoyed for 16 years while they lived nearby. Woodward retired from the DOW in 1982.
JoAnn said it's rare that DOW names a trail as a memorial to one of its wildlife officers.
The veteran Colorado Division of Wildlife district manager, a mentor to many and one of the area's best-known backcountry experts and anglers, first joined DOW as a trapper in 1951.
At the dedication of the Walt Woodward Trail DOW Northwest Regional Manager Bob Caskey described his former colleague as a "salt of the Earth" type who was always pleasant to be around. Woodward's wife, JoAnn, cut the trail dedication ribbon and led several people on a hike.
Woodward's sons, Chuck, now DOW district manager a Craig; and Brent, currently a DOW wildlife manager trainee, carry on the father's tradition.
Born Aug. 8, 1917, in Kelly, Wyo., Woodward was comfortable and happy living and working in the Rocky Mountains. One of his favorite stories relates the time as a young man he was loading railroad ties in Lander, Wyo. It was nearing Christmas, and Woodward couldn't afford the cost of a bus ticket to visit his parents in Jackson Hole. He hitch-hiked some, then decided to hike over the rugged Gros Ventre Range, where he had trapped and hunted as a youngster. The two day adventure was highlighted by an encounter with a large bull elk. Woodward had taken off his snowshoes to walked across the top of a windblown peak, when he came to a narrow rocky edge that the bull staked out as his own territory. After a bluffing game between him and the elk, Woodward finally gave in to the big animal and slipped his snowshoes back on to continue on a more difficult path, leaving the bull to his territory.
When he first moved to Colorado in 1936, Woodward arrived in a Buick touring car on gravel and dirt roads and landed a job with the U.S. Forest Service. During World War II he was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Badge and Bronze Star.
People were always stopping at his place to get him to show them how to catch fish, according to Paul Gilbert, his former boss with the DOW.
"One day everything seemed to be going wrong at work. Nothing was working out too well, so Walt sat down and unraveled the string from a gunny sack," said Gilbert. "He made us some flies and we went down to the river and they worked like a charm. We caught all the fish you would want."
Fishing was one of his favorite hobbies, and Woodward would often make fun of the fishermen wearing hip-boots. Many were scolded for walking into a stream because the fishermen were disturbing water where he knew there would be fish.
"You'd never catch him in hip-boots," said John Ellenberger, of the DOW in Grand Junction. "He thought you would be passing the best water to fish. He'd use a No. 4 or No. 6 Muskrat and was an excellent fisherman. "You might think you were doing pretty good, then Walt would pull out what he'd catch, and it didn't make any difference if it was for size or numbers, Walt would beat you."
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 10 - December 31, 1987
'Walt' Woodward, 70, funeral is Saturday
A memorial service for Walter Bradley "Walt" Woodward of BOnd, former longtime wildlife conservation officer in northwestern Colorado, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the McCoy Community Church.
Mr. Woodward died at his home near Bond Monday, Dec. 28, at the age of 70.
The Rev. John Shue will officiate at Saturday afternoon's memorial rites. The body will be cremated following the services, and Mr. Woodwards ashes will be spread around the Flattops Wilderness next summer.
Hannagan Mortuary of Leadville is in charge of funeral arrangements. The family has requested memorial donations go the McCoy Community Church.
Mr. Woodward was born Aug. 8, 1917 in Jackson, Wyo. He was the son of the late John Woodward and Kate Spaley Woodward.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a widely respected wildlife conservation officer for the Colorado Divison of Wildlife, who retired after 31 years of work across northwestern Colorado.
Mr. Woodward was married Sept. 8, 1967, in Eagle to the former Eva JoAnn Craig.
He was a member of Bond-McCoy American Legion Post No. 195.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, JoAnn, are four sons, Chuck Woodward of Crag, Steve Steggall of Troufle, Wash., Mike Steggall of Gypsum, and Patrick Staggall of Grand Junction; four daughters, Gale Staggall of Minturn, Jodie Steggall of Edwards, Zema Chambers of Grand Junction, and Tanny Woodward of Oklahoma; one brother, Chet Woodward of Jackson, Wyo.; two sisters, Dolly Greek of Montana and Nellie Crandell of Idaho; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine brothers and sisters.
Steamboat Pilot page 5D - January 28, 1988
