John Gurman Wood Jr.

1927 - 2014

John Gurman Wood, Jr. 1927-2014 John Gurman Wood, Jr. of Kirkwood, MO passed away quietly at Manor Grove Long Term Care in Kirkwood on November 30. His wife of 64+ years Jane Raby Wood and his eldest daughter Jean Wood were at his side. Mr. Wood, the son of John Gurman and Mary Elizabeth Arnoldi Wood, was born in Doe Run, MO in 1927, the third of six siblings. He grew up in rural St. Francois County, MO and attended Farmington High School. Following high school Mr. Wood enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II, serving on oil tankers in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. He was always proud of his service to his country during the war. After the war he married his wife Jane, moved to Florissant, and started a family. He worked for several years for the Fischer Body Plant in St. Louis. In the early 60's John moved to Kirkwood to take a job with RotoMetrics. Following his retirement in 1992, he and his wife moved to Beaufort, SC to be near the ocean and their children, who were all living on the east coast. They were both active in St. John's Lutheran Church and Lions Club in Beaufort. In 2013 they returned to Kirkwood to be near friends and family where they renewed their membership at Concordia Lutheran Church. Throughout his life John loved nature and the outdoors. In particular, he enjoyed hunting and fishing as long as he was able to get out and about. He also enjoyed traveling with Jane and for a farm boy from Missouri managed to see a lot of the world. Finally, he was very proud of his children. John is survived by his wife Jane, daughters Jean and Judy, son John and daughter in-law Jacqueline Holmes. A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held in the future. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel, www.boppchapel.com. The family would especially like to thank Manor Grove for all their loving care.