BEAVER, Okla.--A tornado that hit the Oklahoma Panhandle March 28 took the lives of two Church of God members, Vance Woodbury and his wife, Barbra Woodbury, both 59.

About 7 p.m. on that Wednesday, a twister blew away the Woodburys' house, which had stood in a rural area near the small town of Elmwood, in Beaver County.

Mrs. Woodbury was in the house and her husband was outside. The tornado touched down and crushed the residence and killed her instantly. The funnel picked up Mr. Woodbury and carried him several yards. He died on the way to a hospital.

Mr. Woodbury was a road supervisor for Beaver County. Mrs. Woodbury was a retail merchandiser.

Victor Vance Woodbury met Barbra Davisson while they were attending AC, Big Sandy, in the 1960s.

The Woodburys attended Sabbath services of the Christian Church of God (CCG), Amarillo, Texas, and the United Church of God (UCG), Liberal, Kan.

Mr. Woodbury is survived by his father, Ledru Woodbury of Fruita, Colo., a brother, Kevin Woodbury, and a sister, Jeanette Jones of Sand Springs, Okla. Mrs. Woodbury is survived by her mother, Fern Davisson of Akron, Colo.; a brother, Alan Davisson of Akron; and two sisters, Bonnie Fassler of Wray, Colo., and Betty Lou Lewton of Omaha, Neb.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury are both survived by two sons, Curtis Woodbury of Hooker, Okla. (who was serving with the military in Afghanistan), and Brad Woodbury of Guymon, Okla.; a daughter, Vicki Shook of Sayre, Okla.; and eight grandchildren.

Officiating at the funeral service in Beaver were Tom Clark of Wichita, Kan., a pastor in the UCG, and Joe Kirkpatrick of Portales, N.M., an elder in the CCG.

The Woodburys were “wonderful people, good Christians and excellent friends," Mr. Kirkpatrick said. “I cannot remember when I didn't know Vance as we were childhood friends."

More than 300 relatives, friends and neighbors attended the service, “an obvious tribute to the character of these two wonderful people," Mr. Kirkpatrick said.

The family receives mail in care of Ledru Woodbury, 1180 Marigold Ave., Fruita, Colo. 81521, U.S.A.