Woodrow Thaddeus Wood

 

Woodrow Thaddeus Wood 91, of Layton Utah passed away November 3rd. 2023

 

He was born October 16th 1932 in Kerens (close to Elkins) Randolph County, West Virginia. Woodrow (Woody) was the Son of Huston A. Wood and Flossie Jordon Wood. He was the youngest of 8 children. His mother passed away when he was seven years old, which resulted in hardship in his young life. As a young man Woody worked for Pile Lumber Company unloading train cars carrying lumber. When Woody was 18, he joined the Air Force and attended basic training in Geneva, New York and was later transferred to Hill AFB.  He eventually attended and graduated from Davis High School.

 

As a young airman at Hill Air Force Base Woody was introduced to the love of his life,  Darlene Sessions. After a courtship he asked her father, William Sessions, if he could marry his daughter to which he replied that “he could think of no better man to marry my daughter than Woody”. The couple was married April 30th 1953. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple. Darlene and Woody were married for 70 years. In death they only spent two weeks apart as she passed away October 20, 2023.

 

After their marriage, the couple moved to San Antonio, Texas where Woody was stationed at Kelly AFB for two and a half years. He was discharged from the military at Kelly AFB but joined the Air Force reserve and took a job back at Hill AFB flying as a crewman on the C119 and then in the C124 for 8 years, flying many missions to Vietnam. When the couple moved back to Utah from Texas, they purchased their Francis Avenue home where they would welcome their two daughters Cheryl and Sandra.  

 

Transfers with the Air Force necessitated moves to Rohnert Park, California (Hamilton AFB) and Yucaipa, California (March AFB). There Woody was a refueling/boom operator and instructor for the KC 135:  His family always supported the honorable job Woody had chosen to do not only to support his family but to honor and serve his country. Woody retired from service in 1988 as Senior Master Sargent. After retirement he and his sweetheart moved back to their Layton home on Francis Avenue where they spent many years remodeling their home and making improvements to their property. They loved visits from their children, grandchildren, and most recently great grandchildren.

 

We will miss our dear Father for his kindness, generosity and mostly for his unending love for his family and for our dear Mother.

 

Woody is preceded in death by his sweetheart Darlene Sessions Wood, Brothers: Ray Wood, Montgomery Wood, Sisters : Erma Baughman, Geneva Smith, Leona Swecker and Madge Wood. He is survived by his sister Colleen Reed, daughters Cheryl (Sherri) Wood, Sandra (Sandy) Wood Checketts, three grandchildren: Ian Checketts, Lauren Checketts (Warne), Hannah Checketts (Roothoff) and five great grandchildren.

 

Services will be held Saturday, November 11th 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Summerfield Ward, 60 West Gordon Ave. Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

 

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton.

 

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed at the bottom of Woodrow’s obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com

 

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