Donald Frederick Wood

Donald Frederick Wood was born July 25, 1944 in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He left the ranch on Sunday, July 27, 2025.

He graduated from Bonne Terre high school in 1962, Washington University, in St Louis, in 1966 and Harvard Law School in 1969.

Don married Jill Bryar in September 1965. After law school they spent a year in Atlanta where he worked for Arthur Andersen to complete his CPA certification.

In 1971 he joined the Tax Section of the law offices of Vinson & Elkins, in Houston, Texas, and later became Section Head of the Tax Department. In 1997 he was asked to go to the Austin, Texas office to become Managing Partner of that Vinson & Elkins office. He joined Jill at the Wimberley ranch which they purchased in 1981.

He retired from Vinson & Elkins in 2018 and spent the rest of his life enjoying the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. In 2017 he and Jill purchased a home in Dorset, Vermont where they spent their summers.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021. He was given wonderful care by M.D. Anderson in Houston.

Surviving family members are his wife of almost 60 years, Jill Bryar Wood, daughter Lesley Wood and her daughter Elizabeth Schultze. His son Frederick Wood , wife Jenny and their three daughters, Camilla, Francesca and Delphine Wood. He is also survived by his brother Howard Wood of Bonne Terre, Missouri.

Don loved practicing law, helping his clients and mentoring young people. His wife, family and many friends were among the most treasured things in his life.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the M.D. Anderson Donald F. and Jill Bryar Wood Endowment for Cancer Research.

A celebration of his life will be held in the future.