Donald Gilbert Wood

WOOD Donald Gilbert Wood passed away in his sleep on September 22, 2011 at First Community Village in Columbus. He was 88 years old. His beloved wife, Martha Adams Wood, had passed away five days earlier in the same room at First Community Village. Don was born in Columbus on October 31, 1922, the son of Homer E. Wood and Florence Berlew Wood. On January 22, 1937, 14-year-old Don Wood left his home on Blenheim Road in Clintonville to go to dancing school. On that same day, Martha Adams, who had just turned 14, was getting ready to leave her home at 40 Brighton Rd. She was headed for the same dancing school. Fate brought Don and Martha together that day. They were together ever since except when Don was in the Army during World War II. Martha and Don went to North High School together, graduating in 1940. Don's lifelong friend, Tom Crane, also graduated from North High School in 1940. Don and Tom Crane were members of and president of the Cartoon Club. Don and Martha went on to Ohio State University. Martha graduated in 1944. When Don was discharged from the Army in 1946, he continued his classes at Ohio State. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1947 and a Master of Arts degree in 1948. At Ohio State, Don was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and worked on the "Sundial," the campus humor magazine. Don and Martha were married on November 20, 1943 at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house at Ohio State. Martha was a senior at Ohio State and president of Pi Beta Phi. Don, who was a corporal in the Army Air Corps, got a pass so he could return to Columbus for their wedding. Both Don and Martha had distinguished teaching careers. Martha was a teacher and administrator at the Columbus Academy for nearly 30 years and Don spent 30 years teaching at Ohio State. Don was a professor in the Department of Industrial Design, College of the Arts, at Ohio State starting in 1948 and was acting director for four years. He was also a potter and a freelance artist, designing furniture and displays for the OSU campus. He received numerous awards at local, state and national art competitions. He was art director of "Ceramics Monthly" magazine and wrote articles on pottery design and techniques. Don also did design work for the Ohio Historical Society and was on the board of directors of the Columbus Museum of Art. He was a design consultant for Nationwide Insurance of Columbus. Don was chairman of the Professional Design Area of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at Ohio State. He taught industrial design and was part of a research program in the Building Research Laboratory at Ohio State. The author of several articles for professional journals, Don also wrote two books on the design of space enclosure systems. Don retired from Ohio State in 1978 after three decades as a professor and designer. He was named Professor Emeritus in the Department of Industrial, Interior, and Visual Communication Design. Don was active in the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Columbus, serving numerous terms as reader and supporting the church in administration. He facilitated the move from First Avenue to its current location at 1118 King Avenue. Don opened his office as a Christian Science Practitioner in 1978 and became a Christian Science Journal-listed Practitioner in 1980. Don was actively involved in the construction of the Glenmont Christian Science nursing facility in Hilliard. In 2007, after living at 106 Montrose Way in Clintonville for 52 years and raising three sons, Don and Martha moved to First Community Village. The family wishes to thank Marilyn Gordon and the staff at First Community Village for the compassion and care that they gave to Don and Martha. Don is survived by son, Tom and his wife Ellen in Litchfield, ME; son, Steve and his wife Cheryl in South Orange, NJ; son, Dan and his wife Gloria Goodale in Sherman Oaks, CA; grandson, Grant Wood and his wife Rachel in New Providence, NJ; granddaughter, Shelby Wood in Jersey City, NJ; granddaughter, Carey Brooks Wood and grandson, Daniel Sean Wood in Sherman Oaks, CA; great-grandsons, Kody and Conner Wood in New Providence, NJ; brother, Bill Wood and his wife Dolores in Greenville, SC; several cousins; nieces and nephews, including Mike Wood and his wife Teresa in Columbus, OH; and several second-cousins, great-nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Richard Adams and his wife Nancy in Fredericksburg, VA. Don was predeceased by his wife Martha, brother Robert Wood, and Robert's wife Claire Wood in Columbus, OH. Memorial gifts in the name of Donald Gilbert Wood may be made to Glenmont, A Christian Science Nursing Facility, 4599 Avery Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026. A memorial service for Don and Martha will be held on Friday, October 28, at 2 p.m. at SOUTHWICK-GOOD & FORTKAMP FUNERAL CHAPEL, 3100 N. High St., Columbus. Calling hours will be 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, at the funeral chapel. www.southwickfuneral.com