William Woodrow Isenhart Jr.

William Woodrow “Woody” Isenhart Jr., age 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 6:23 a.m. Woody was born the only child to the late Lois Blevins Munhausen, on May 15, 1942 in Mahan, West Virginia.

Woody’s most favorite thing in life was his family and he vowed to keep the family unit close to him, always gathering in love. As a matter of fact, the closing line at the end of EVERY prayer at family affairs he would say…”Bring us back together OFTEN and ALWAYS in LOVE”. He definitely earned the title of the MOST loving father and husband a family could ask for. He often put his family’s needs above his own. His legacy will be one of integrity, loyalty, and commitment to the love of his life, Thelma Maurine Durham along with his children, grandchildren and son and daughters in law, who adored him.

Woody was a legend, a renaissance man and truly one of a kind. The man could tell a story… he had a million jokes that he memorized and would tell people when he was “holding court” during gatherings. The timing of his punchlines was impressive and his jokes hilarious…he could keep his friends and family rolling on the floor laughing for hours. He loved playing 42 dominoes, poker, gin rummy, and hated playing bridge. He loved to drink Scotch. He was the best dancer. His family not only loved dancing with him but also loved watching him dance with his bride, Thelma. They were so smooth together, just like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And…he could sing and loved to do so as he had a beautiful voice. He was a natural “Ham” so it just seemed fitting that he didn’t hesitate to get up on stage and “perform” in front of others whenever he had the opportunity. He was definitely the life of every party! He loved being active and taught all his kids to play tennis, ride horses, and snow/water ski. He baked bread for the Texas A&M Canterbury students for their services and cooked breakfast for the parishioners of St. Thomas Episcopal on Sunday mornings. He COULD and DID do it all.

Woody was an avid fisherman and hunter and there were a lot of life’s lessons learned from him around the campfire, in the deer blind, and on the oyster reefs in Galveston Bay. He instilled the love of outdoors in his kids, making it a point to get a deer lease each year for the family. When his sons were teenagers, he would prioritize time with them and take trips out to the Big Bend National Park where they would ride via horseback back into the canyons to hunt. He also enjoyed lots of down time “gigging” flounders down at Christmas Point on the Texas coast and also in Baffin Bay over the years…he even won 3rd place in the Texas S.T.A.R. tournament in 1997.

Woody was a hard worker and very successful in his career, despite the odds. He met his “love” Thlema at Sam Houston State University in 1960; they married in 1962 but never finished their degrees. So as the story goes, he was married, with a couple of kids and no college degree in his mid 20s. He was forced to make a living and did so the best way he could. He bounced around the various industries and eventually found a home in Sales. He could sell “Ice to an Eskimo” as they say, because he understood people. Woody eventually worked his way into a very prestigious electrical engineering sales career selling products to refineries in the Houston area. At the end of his sales career, he sold one of the largest orders his company had ever seen and was the top salesman in his firm.

After raising their children in Tomball, Texas, Woody and Thelma decided to go back to school when they were 50 years old to finish their undergraduate degrees at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. They chose this fine university because of what it stood for…Honesty. Excellence. Integrity. Selfless Service. Respect. Leadership. Loyalty. He displayed these important characteristics everyday in his own life. Woody graduated with a Speech Communication degree and was part of the Class of ‘92. WHOOP. Woody made the Dean’s list several semesters in a row and graduated Cum Laude in his class. He and Thelma were awarded the prestigious “Parents of the Year” designation at Texas A&M in 1992. They were both humbled and overwhelmed by this honorable consideration.

Woody is preceded in death by the love of his life of 63 years; Thelma Durham Isenhart (wife); his parents, Lois Blevins Munhausen (mother), Joseph Addison Munhausen (step-father); and beautiful great-granddaughter, Ella Isenhart.

Woody is survived by his loving family; son, Joe Isenhart and wife Stacey of San Antonio, Texas; son Brad Isenhart and wife Dana of Iola, Texas; Daughter Mary Beth (Isenhart) Henthorne and husband Neil of Iola, Texas. 7 grandchildren whom he adored (and respective spouses): Tyler Isenhart, Sam Isenhart (and wife, Holly), Braden Isenhart, Abby Isenhart Rylands (and husband, Chip) Emma Isenhart, Hunter Isenhart, and Sophie Isenhart; brother in law, Stanley Durham of Canyon Lake, Texas and niece Patricia (and husband Connor); cousin Marilyn Winneford of Houston, Texas; cousin Eugie Glash and wife Denise of Houston, Texas; cousin Rosie Glash Whitelock and husband David of Ft. Collins, Colorado; and David, Eric and Andrew Dupre, his nephews. He also leaves many other family and friends who will sadly miss his loving demeanor, his jokes and his stories..

A celebration of Woody’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at the Little Chapel, 12704 John Rice Road, Iola, Texas with a light reception following the service. In case of rain, rainout plans will be updated here one week before the celebration. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the College station, Texas Home Health (BCS), 3600 Highway 6 South, suite 100, College Station, Texas, 77845. Enhabit Hospice of College Station was a God-send in both Thelma’s and Woody’s end of life processes.

Although Woody’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, his spirit and his legacy will endure. May his memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth his legacy of integrity and honor in all that we do. We know, Woody Bill, that you and Thelma are reunited in heavenly love. Your LOVE for us will forever shine brightly in our hearts. Until we see each other again…Dance on and fly high rejoicing in your Eternal Life. Welcome Home. ➕