Wood, Jr., John William
John William Wood, Jr., 90 of Pearisburg passed away Sunday, August 31st, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Maben, West Virginia on April 25th, 1924, and was the son of the late John William Wood, Sr. and Ruth Marie Hall Wood. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a sister, Kathleen Shyblosky; and a brother, Robert L. Wood.
A U.S. Navy World War II veteran, William served as a radio operator in the Pacific Theater. He worked as a railroad agent and telegrapher with the Virginian Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway for 21 years, then served as Postmaster in Pearisburg for 21 years. A faithful Christian for over 64 years, William served as song leader, choir director, Sunday School teacher, lay minister, interim minister and was involved in jail and prison ministry. In addition he and his wife Hazel visited the sick and discouraged. Both William and Hazel served on the Giles Memorial Hospital volunteer auxiliary for 12 years. He loved singing, playing the harmonica, guitar and kazoo. William was also a member of the Pearisburg Kiwanis Club and the Giles County Camp of Gideons International. He loved God, country, family, church family, friends and strangers he met. He and his wife resided on Bunker Hill in Pearisburg since 1956.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of over 71 years, Hazel Narelle Foster Wood; two sons, Roger Wood and wife Brenda of Narrows, J.W. Wood, III, and wife Jennifer of Lynchburg; a daughter, Paula Wood Taylor and husband Richard of Christiansburg; four granddaughters, Erin Burton (Mike), Emily Sowell (Tim), Julia Strowd (Zach), and Adrienne Webb (Joshua); eight great-grandchildren, Savanna Burton, Chandler Burton, Mathew Sowell, Morgan Sowell, Macy Sowell, Holden Strowd, Jewel Webb, and Stella Webb; a brother, Lawrence C. Wood of Oak Hill, West Virginia; two sisters, Betty White of Mullens, West Virginia and Patricia Sullivan of Livonia, Michigan; two step-granddaughters, several nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends, including a special feline companion, Smee.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 at 2 PM at Pearisburg Christ Fellowship with Pastors David Bracken, Greg Cox, and Phillip Vickers officiating. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg with graveside rites conducted by the United States Navy Funeral Honors Detail. The family will receive friends at Pearisburg Christ Fellowship Wednesday from 12 noon until just prior to the service. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider the Giles County Weekday Religious Education Program; P.O. Box 401 Pearisburg, VA 24134, to be earmarked for the Bible Bus program.
The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.