Capt. Robert L. Wood Jr.

WOOD, JR. , Capt. Robert L. On Sunday, February 24, U.S. Air Force Ret. Capt. Robert L. Wood, Jr. of Arlington, VA, a World War II and Korean War veteran, died battling congestive heart failure. He was 91. Born in Baltimore in 1921, Mr. Wood graduated from Calvert Hall College High School (1940). Son of a World War I combat soldier, Mr. Wood enlisted in the Army Air Corps after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was a Ball Turret Gunner and Bombardier on B-17s ("Flying Fortress") in Air Offensive Europe, and Air Combat Balkans. Serving in the 15th Air Force, 99th Bomb Group, 347th Squadron, he received many commendations and medals, and his Unit was awarded a Presidential Citation. He was a "Ploesti Oil Fields Raider" over Romania. He also served on B-29s in the Mariana Islands in the Pacific in 1945. Mr. Wood was a Finance Officer stationed in Korea with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Group (F-86s) during the Korean War. Later in the 1950s, as a night student, he earned Bachelor's degrees from Sofia University, Tokyo and Georgetown University (BSFS); and a Master of Science degree from George Washington University. Mr. Wood retired as Captain, and was active in World War II and Korean War historical associations. After his military career, Mr. Wood taught Economics and Finance courses at several colleges, including the Univ. of Maryland's Univ. College, for four decades. He spent his final years devoted to family, friends and former students, sending newspaper clippings and yellow Whitman's candy boxes; and, helping many charities. Mr. Wood is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Hildred (House) Wood; his son and daughter-in-law, Ronald L. and Kathryn Kinzer of Springfield, VA; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanette and Timothy J. Hawks of Cape Canaveral, FL, and, daughter and son-in-law, Jacqueline and John F. Welch of Winchester, MA; a brother and sister-in-law, Lt. Col. J. Leonard (Army, Ret.) and Patricia Wood of Timonium; a sister, Sister Mary Ann Wood, SSND, and a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jo and Robert T. Griffin all of Baltimore; and a sister-in-law, Susan (Linz) Wood of a predeceased brother Thomas O. of Timonium. Mr. Wood had a special bond with each of his 12 grandchildren, and is also survived by two great-grandsons, nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Sat., March 2nd at Dulin United Methodist Church, 513 East Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046. Burial with full military honors at Arl. Nat. Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements by www.murphyfuneralhomes.com. Memorial contributions could be to the American Heart Assn., or Dulin United Meth. Church.