Richard H. Wood, age 56, of Highland died
Saturday morning at his residence surrounded by the comfort of his family.
He was born March 4, 1947 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Peg Simpson and
Richard Wood. Rich was a member of
the Wilmington High School Class of 1965. He and his wife, Phyllis, were married
in Sparta, North Carolina on March 27, 1968. Rich received a Bachelor of Science
in Education from Cleveland State University in 1976. In 2000, Rich completed
his Master’s of Education at Wright State. For the past ten years, Rich was a
teacher at Hillsboro Middle School where he was known by for his sense of humor
and his commitment to educating students not only in sciences but in many other
important life lessons. He was an avid Cincinnati Reds fan, and passed a love
for the sport of baseball on to his children and grandchildren. He was a member
of Phi Delta Kappa , the Lions Club, and founder of FreeWheelers of America, a
non-profit organization dedicated to serving disabled individuals in need of
wheelchairs and other assistive devices. He
served many years as a softball coach for his daughters’ little league
teams and was a skilled woodworker who enjoyed passing the time in his workshop.
He was also a nature lover who appreciated the beauty of the world around him
and spent many days fishing, hunting and gardening. Rich was a member of St.
Mary’s Catholic Church in Hillsboro. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Wood,
also a teacher in the Hillsboro City School District, his mother Peg Simpson of
Highland, his daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and Joe Jacky of Hillsboro, Sarah
and Andre Hums of Lebanon, and Becca Wood of Highland, and four grandchildren,
Jonathan, Emma, Daniel and Christopher Jacky. He is also survived by many
cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, neighbors and
long-time friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Harold Wood
of Washington Court House. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 3
at 3:00 p.m. in the Hillsboro High School gymnasium. A Memorial Mass will also
be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro
with Father Stanley Luehrmann celebrant. Mass will be followed by a Celebration
of Life in honor of Rich at his residence in Highland. The Turner & Son
Funeral Home is serving the family. In
lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS
Clinic in Charlotte, NC in care of the Turner & Son Funeral Home, P.O. Box
127, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. For
more information and to access our on-line register please visit
www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc
6100 Gurneyville Rd. Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Mrs. Wood, I am very sorry for your loss. I've thought about you and Rich many times since Thursday. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Polly
7116 Green Rd, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
130 Collins Avenue Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
Dear Phyllis, We are very sorry to learn of the passing of Richard. Both of us enjoyed teaching with him in the Hillsboro City Schools. We are sending our condolences to you and your family. Love, Buddy and Marilyn Pence
PO Box 338 Dayton, OH 45404
He was a good friend. I will miss him.
With deepest sympathy for Peg and the family of Richard. May God give all of you strength in this time of sorrow.
P.O. Box 172 Leesburg, OH 45135
My prayers are with you!
143 Holmes St. Hillsboro,Ohio 45133
Phyllis, Our thoughts are with you and your family. We will keep you in our prayers. Judy and Evan
Sarah, Andre(And the Wood family), I am so very, very sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers and my heart go out to you. Please take care! Love, Stephanie Ashpaw
9336 Old Village Dr. Loveland, OH 45140
Dear Sarah, Andre & the entire Wood Family, We are very sorry to hear about your dad. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
He was one of the best teachers. I have ever had and i will miss Mr. Wood very much. And this is for all the people that couldnt say it but they do.
Hi Sarah and Andre, We're so sorry for the loss of your Dad at such a young age. So many things you won't be able to share with him in person. But we truly believe that our relatives that leave before some of the neat things you'll go through, still witness them. Just on a different level.
I myself got to keep my Dad until 2 years ago, and it still hurts when I think about him. It gets less as time goes by, and has moved into just a growing sense of acceptance. I hope time heals quickly for your family.
Sue & Tom Knippen
85 Mitchell Road Wilmington, OH 45177
I read Richard's obituary in the Wilm News Journal. I'm so sorry for your loss. Even though we don't know one another, our families are connected through the dibilitating disease of ALS. I just lost my mother, Sandra Crisenbery Hormell, to ALS on Feb 17. She was also a teacher, and just as Richard did, she touched many lives in her teaching career. There's a saying that we can relate to: "It's not what you take with you, but what you leave behind". The important lessons of life that Richard taught others will remain in the lives of those effected for many generations to come. May God Bless you and your family. Kevi Hormell Copsey Wilmington, Ohio
PO Box 536 Yellow Springs, OH 45387-0536
Richard and I were classmates, graduating together in 1965. Since teachers typically seated us in alphabetical order, Richard, Big Daddy Wilson, and I usually sat in one corner of the classroom together. My first memory of Richard is, I believe, from 8th grade. He suddenly turned around and said to me, “My mom’s getting married!!” He was so excited.
Richard and I have not known each other since 1967. Reading his obituary gave me a sense of the person he became. It pleases me so much to learn about the ways he impacted the lives of children; that he loved and appreciated the natural world, as do I; and that he turned a challenge that life presented him into an opportunity to help people that may never even know his name. He has made a difference in this world, and I am glad to have known him.
May you find comfort from your memories and the knowledge that Richard’s spirit lives on.
Sherry Wixson
1945 SE 31st Terr. Cape Coral, Fl 33904
We send our prayers and love. Psalm 23
511 Gingercake Rd. Fayetteville, Georgia 30214-1072
Dear Phyllis and Family, My prayers and thoughs are with you all in this difficult time. Rich was a special and great person. I enjoyed his company and have thought of him often over the years since we worked together. May God Bless You All.
Sincerely,
Scott Deacon
511 Gingercake Rd. Fayetteville, Georgia 30214-1072
Dear Phyllis and Family, My prayers and thoughs are with you all in this difficult time. Rich was a special and great person. I enjoyed his company and have thought of him often over the years since we worked together. May God Bless You All.
Sincerely,
Scott Deacon
2436 summerlin dr clearwater fl 33764
phyliss and family connie and i were both very sad to hear about rich did not know untill last week of april you and your family have our heartfelt sympathy we both enjoyed the times spent with rich and you at shopsmith functions and your visit to fl you and your family are in our prayers fred and connie