Obituary of John A. Wood

EDWARDS - John A. Wood, formerly of Edwards, passed away at the age of 82 on May 30, 2013 at his home in Gloucester, VA under the loving care of his family and the Riverside Walter Reed Hospice Program. His graveside service will be on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gates Cemetery, Edwards. The service will be officiated by Pastor Michael Gault and the Edwards Masonic Lodge. A reception will follow at the Edwards Fire Hall. Condolences may be made online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. John was born on June 22, 1930 to the late John E. and Ethel (Whitford) Wood). He served in the United States Army from 1949 until his medical discharge in 1951. He was a member of the Gloucester American Legion Post #75, the Edwards Masonic Lodge, and a former member of the Edwards Fire Department where he served as Fire Chief for 13 years. John married Shirley A. Kerr on September 14, 1951. The couple lived in Edwards before moving to Connecticut, Georgia and then Virginia. John loved to cook, go hunting, work in his gardens, and enjoyed woodworking. He worked as a painter for J&L Steel in Star Lake for 30 years and for General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut for 13 years before his retirement. Mr. Wood is survived by his wife, Shirley of Gloucester, VA; five sons, Brent and Margo of Young Harris, GA, Craig and Karen of Hermon, Tom and Judy of Gouverneur, Mitchell and April of Gloucester, VA, Lance and Lisa of Danielson, CT; two daughters, Becky and Kevin Stockwell of Hillsboro, WI and Brandi Williams of Gloucester, VA; four brothers, Jim of Oswegatchie, Gary of Carthage, Ronald of Gouverneur, Roland of Edwards; two sisters, Janice Brown of Edwards and Beverly Towne of Arizona. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and a brother, Donald Wood. Donations in memory of John may be made to the Edwards Fire Department, P.O. Box 29, Edwards NY 13635 or to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US HWY 11, Potsdam NY 13676.