Richard Warren Wood

Richard Wood, well known Kansas Business Owner, Realtor and Farm and Land Manager
Richard Warren Wood, Age 92, died December 31, 2024 at home in Pittsburg, Kansas surrounded by
his loving family. He was born on October 3, 1932 to Samuel Scott Wood and Edith D. Pearson Wood at their home in Stockton, Kansas.
Richard married Betty Marie Rosenberg on December 3, 1950, at the Galesburg Christian Church in
Galesburg, KS. Richard and Betty enjoyed 73 years of marriage surrounded by the love of many
friends and a wonderful family who all live in the Pittsburg area. They both enjoyed a life of faith and
service to their church, family and community. Richard was preceded in death by his loving wife Betty
just 9 months earlier on March 8, 2024. Richard was also preceded in death by his parents Samuel Scott Wood and Edith D. Pearson Wood; 3 brothers, Noel E. Wood, John S. Wood, Dean E. Wood, and 2 sisters Lida Mae Overton and Edith June (Ed) Durham.
Survivors include his 3 sons; Roger S. Wood (Terri), Rick W. Wood (Meichelle), Robert L. Wood
(Robin), 4 grandchildren; Tiffany Wiske (Jason), Regina Winemiller (Isaac), Rachel Valencia (Adam),
Christian Anne Elizabeth "CAE" Wood and 7 great grandchildren; Logan, Madeline, and Autumn
Wiske, Fiona and Maya Winemiller, Frankie and June Valencia, with most living in the Pittsburg area.
Richards parents moved to a farm south of Galesburg, Kansas in 1942 where Richard attended 2 years
at Parsons High School then 2 at Galesburg High School graduating in 1950. He was very active in FFA
& 4H, County and State Fairs and was Senior Class President and year book editor. On December 3,
1950 he married the class Secretary, business partner and love of his life, Betty Marie Rosenberg. Due
to his fathers health issues, in January 1950 Richards parents turned over the entire 320 acre farm
operation to him and they moved to Fredonia, Kansas. By this time Richard had his own large herd of
Registered Hampshire hogs, a herd of 5 Registered Angus cows and farmed the 1/2 section of land
during his senior year in high school. Then he worked to spruce up the old 12 room house for their
upcoming wedding. After graduation he also worked as a mud mixer for brick layers at the Army
Ammunition Plant and worked at the Swift Poultry Plant. To support his habit of farming, he became a
Field Representative for the Successful Farming Publication winning many awards for sales.
In 1956 they purchased their next home on a 160 acre farm. In the next year Richard purchased 1/2
interest in Byrd Clark Investment Company in Erie, Kansas. He joined Kiwanis International in 1959
and continued as an active member, serving as President of both Erie and Pittsburg Sunflower clubs.
He was also the Chairman of the Spiritual Committee and for many years was zone Chairman for the
Pittsburg clubs American flag display program, annually putting up 50 flags each holiday. In 1962 he
purchased the other 1/2 of Byrd Clark Investment Co., which handled Real estate and Mortgage
Banking renaming it Richard Wood Investment Company. In 1962 he became the 2nd person in the
State to earn the title of Kansas Accredited Land Consultant by National Realtors Land Institute. He
was later elected President of the Kansas Chapter of Realtors Land Institute. In 1971 he opened Wood
Realtors 2nd Office in Pittsburg and purchased the VELFRE Motel at Centennial and Broadway. Later
he put together a group to purchase the Old 69 Motel across from where the Walmart Superstore is now. He also put together another group of investors to purchase and develop the Random Estates Housing Addition.
In 1972 Richard was elected President of the Kansas Assn. Realtors and earned his Certified
Commercial Investment Designation, having completed over 700 hours of Real Estate and
Management Courses. In 1976 he was awarded Realtor of Year for Kansas and elected President of
Kansas Chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members. In 1980 he won the (problem solving)
Transaction of the Year Award from the National Assn. He served six years on the Pittsburg Planning & Zoning Commission, one as President. He was awarded Honorary Life Member of the Kansas Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He was active on Kansas Assn of Realtors Board of Directors from 1968 to 2019. He was chosen by the Federal Land Bank as their Exclusive Agent to market their SEK nine county foreclosed farms program from 1986 to 1990 (300 properties).
Richard was an active member of Countryside Christian Church since 1971, and held the positions of
Deacon, Elder & Trustee. He was baptized at Galesburg Christian Church in 1950 and was elected
Treasurer of the Board in 1957. He helped start and was a member of Westside Christian Church in
Parsons until moving to Pittsburg. Richard was President of KANOKLA Evangelizers Assn., planting
several new churches in 2 states. He served as a Steering Committee Member for the 4 State Christian
Mens Fellowship, helping plant and assist the startup of many churches in the region. In 1989 he
joined Gideon's International serving in all positions for over 15 years including as Church Ministries
Chairman and on the State Cabinet. He served on the Board of Directors of Campus Christians at PSU,
and as Treasurer for several years. Richard enjoyed traveling with his wife and family spending many weekends in the summer at the lake swimming, boating and skiing or fishing and relaxing at their farm outside of Pittsburg. Richard and Betty liked to travel and enjoyed trips to Brazil, Alaska, Hawaii, several Mexico trips and a trip to Europe and Denmark. Overall, Richard visited over 30 National Parks, all 50 states and 3 world continents. Even with busy careers, businesses to run, land to manage, farms to maintain, travel plans, church events and bibles to distribute, Richard and Betty loved most of all spending lots of quality time with their kids, grandkids and great grandkids fishing, playing cards, assembling puzzles, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, helping them with projects and giving the best hugs.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Countryside
Christian Church, 1901 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS with Dan Muter, minister and Jim Frech, minister co-
officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25, at the
Countryside Christian Church. Friends may come by from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday at the
Brenner Mortuary to sign the register book. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday,
January 25, 2025 at the Mt. Hope Cemetery, 6000 Kingman Road, Galesburg, Kansas. Friends are
requested to meet at the cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to Countryside Christian Church or Gideon's International. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard Warren Wood, please visit our floral store.