Obituary of Thomas Edward Woodard

Thomas Edward "Toby" Woodard, 45, of Vestal, NY, lost his years long battle with drug addiction in the early morning hours of August 8, 2023. He was born June 9, 1978 in Ithaca, NY and grew up in Owego, NY. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Ed and Margaret Boynton, Gail Blaker, Jim Corder; several aunts and uncles. He is survived by his parents, Diane and Bruce Corder, Owego, NY, Tom Woodard, New Orleans, LA; his grandmother, Helen Corder, Scranton, PA; five children, Ainsley, Madeline, Hudson, Saige and Sophia, all of Vestal, NY; his siblings. Kasey (Chip) Beam, Binghamton, NY, Chanelle Corder, Jim Corder, Owego, NY; his nephew, Mark (Mackenzie) Middendorf, Oneonta, NY; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Toby said his greatest joy in life was becoming a dad. He was a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, and a longtime attendee of Grassroots Music Festival. He passed his love of sports and art onto his children, he loved music, dancing, being outdoors, animals, and was always singing. He had a heart of gold and anyone that was lucky enough to know him knew this to be true, even the people he encountered throughout the darker years of his life always said the same, he would give you his last dollar if you needed it. He attended OFA, and worked in the cable industry as a lineman for a number of years. Toby never wanted to be an addict, however drugs offered an escape from the pain or shame of the mistakes he made in life. We will never know the pain of his suffering, but we do know the pain of our suffering as his family, and we know there are hundreds of other people in our community suffering as addicts or as loved ones to them. Speaking the truth surrounding the epidemic of drug use may be the difference between life and death for someone. In honoring Toby's wishes services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers the family requests a memorial donation be made to a mental health charity, a local animal rescue, or a charity helping others with drug addiction. Toby's care has been entrusted with Estey, Munroe and Fahey Funeral Home. "Gotta let your soulshine."