Doctor Barry F. WOOD

WOOD - Doctor Barry F. Barry Fenton Wood passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2017 in his Arlington Heights, IL home after living with Parkinson's Disease for twenty years.

Barry is survived by his loving wife of 52 years Jean (McCaughey) Wood, twin sons - Dr. Christopher F. (Julie Marz) and Brian T. (Susan Schrack), three grandchildren - Abigail Wood, William Wood, Charles Wood, two sisters - Lauralee Wood Maas (John Maas), Meredith Wood McCaughey (Rev. Dr. Richard McCaughey), sister-in-law Edith Clement Wood, his 104 year old aunt Laurie Paddleford, many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as his caregivers Marie and Mariola. He was predeceased by his parents Leon and Alice (Paddleford) Wood, his brother Dr. Stephen Wood and an infant brother William Wood. He was born in Penn Yan, NY on March 21, 1941. He graduated from Penn Yan Academy in 1959, Syracuse University (B.S.) in 1962, State University of New York at Buffalo Dental School in 1966 (D.D.S.) and in 1968 (M.S. in orthodontics).

He was proud of his service in the US Air Force as Chief of Orthodontic Services at Eielson Air Force Base from 1968 to 1970 in Fairbanks, Alaska. While there, he was taught how to fly single engine airplanes by the base commander who had been President Truman's pilot. His twin sons were born in Fairbanks and learned soon that they had an active, adventurous dad. They flew in his plane and went camping and hiking (on mom and dad's backs) in the great Alaskan wilderness. Barry entered private orthodontic practice in Williamsville, NY in 1970 and had to retire in 2000 because of his Parkinson's Disease. In his professional life, he earned certification by the American Board of Orthodontics, something that very few orthodontists achieve. He was President of the Erie County Dental Society and was given the Dr. Francis J. Stone Distinguished Service Award, based primarily upon his three dental mission trips to Haiti. Barry was also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, board member of the Eighth District Dental Society Orthodontic Academy, member of the Apollonia Guild that provided free dental services to those in need, and a member of the University at Buffalo Dental School Admissions Committee. Barry was very involved in the Williamsville Rotary Club, serving as its President, and participating in Friendship Exchanges that included England, New Zealand and Australia. He was awarded the Rotary International Paul Harris Award. He visited over 62 countries and was a host father to exchange students from Northern Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Taiwan and Australia. Paul Jones from Australia is still very much a part of the family. Barry was an active member of his church, Christ United Methodist, in Snyder, NY and has found sustaining fellowship in his current church, First United Methodist, in Arlington Heights, IL. His involvement at Christ UM Church included teaching church school, leading youth groups and mission trips, singing in the choir and providing instrumental trombone music. He played first trombone in the Amherst Symphony for 35 years and used his ability to play by ear in the Tin Roof Jazz Band and the Buffalo Banjo Band. Barry was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity/Buffalo, building homes for ten years until he could no longer swing a hammer. He was very involved in the lives of his sons, whether leading them down black diamond ski slopes, deer hunting with family in Central NY or serving in leadership roles for all their church and school activities. He received the Williamsville PTA Council Service to Youth Award and the DeWitt Clinton Masonic Award for Community Service.

A service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, April 1 at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, 1903 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Visitation will be at 9:30 AM and worship service at 11:00 AM, followed by a luncheon. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible contributions may be sent to First United Methodist Church of AH, Christ United Methodist Church, 350 Saratoga Rd., Snyder, NY 14226, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 1083, Williamsville, NY 14231-1083 or the Barry and Jean Wood '64 MAR Divinity Endowed Scholarship Fund (checks written to Yale University), Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511.