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Glendale homicide victim’s children seek justice

The Glendale man who was found shot and killed in his driveway Tuesday morning was a devoted family man, pet lover and golfer who seemed without an enemy in the world, according to community members.

Zachary and Marcy Woodruff, his two children, were left in shock after learning of the death of their father, Mark Leroy Woodruff, who was found dead in his car on June 24 with its engine still running.

Zachary, who lives in California, and Marcy, who lives in Minnesota, flew to the Valley on Wednesday and went to their father’s home near 43rd and Maryland avenues, where both grew up.

The house is now scarred by their father’s death, Zachary said.

MORE: Glendale police seek church janitor’s killer

“All of our childhood memories are here,” he said.

Zachary, who was close to his father, said they moved into the home when he was just a few years old, and Woodruff, 72, had lived in the home since.

Both children said Woodruff was well-known in the community, especially at his job as a night janitor for the Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Phoenix. Woodruff had worked for the church for nearly 20 years, beginning in 1995.

“Even though he wasn’t a member of the church, he was really a close part of our church family,” Senior Pastor Rev. Donald Schoenback said. “Although people may not have seen him, we always knew him as ‘Mark the janitor’.”

Shoenback had worked with Woodruff for 12 years and said Mark had a lot of pride in his work, going above and beyond to keep the grounds clean and secure. Shoenback also described Woodruff as a custodial minister because he was known to assist the homeless who sought refuge on the church property.

“He will be very missed,” Schoenback said. “It wasn’t just a job for him, I truly believe he was making the world a better place.”

Aside from working with the church, Woodruff enjoyed playing golf and was artistic, according to his children. He also had a love of cats and his pet, Mr. Kitty, was seen around the home.

Both children emphasized Woodruff’s loving nature and described him as a family man. Marcy said he would call her once a week without fail.

“He did nothing to deserve this. He would give you the shirt off his back,” Marcy said.

“This is what he was like – he loved his family,” Zachary said as he admired a photograph of Woodruff holding his grandson. “My dad was an extremely kind and gentle soul.”

Woodruff’s children said he has a twin bother, living in the state, who is also grieving.

Kathy Neary, a close friend and former co-worker of Woodruff, also described Woodruff’s loving personality. Neary has known Woodruff since he began working for the church, and the two kept in contact after she left the church in 2003. Neary also held on to some of the cartoons and drawings Woodruff made through the years.

“I would walk into my office and he would always have a cartoon for me on my desk,” she said.

“He didn’t ask for trouble,” Neary said.

Woodruff’s family is seeking justice in their father’s death and implore the person responsible to come forward.

“We (the church community) have some unfinished business,” Schoenback said. “They want a reason, a motive, and there is none.”

“I would say (to her father’s killer) you took away something good from the world and it’s a waste,” Marcy said. “You should turn yourself in.”

Police, who responded to a neighbor’s call around 7 a.m. on June 24, discovered Woodruff’s body in the front seat of his car. Woodruff had suffered a gunshot wound, his death has been ruled a homicide, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 623-930-3173 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. The department is actively investigating Woodruff’s death, but has no leads or persons of interest.

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