Geneva Wood, 96, departed this earth to be with her heavenly father on December 5, 2025 after fighting a lengthy battle with multiple health issues. Always strong, always determined to overcome and never did she lose faith in her walk with the Lord and the path he placed her on.
Born Geneva Cooper in Coahoma, Texas on April 24, 1929, to Charles and Bertha Cooper. She was the sixth of eight living children. Born during the Great Depression, they moved where there was employment available to provide for a large family. Mostly living in Texas, she graduated from Vidor High School. After graduating the family moved to Sunnyside, WA. where she attended Nursing School and met her husband, Keith Wood. She would marry Keith in 1948 in Sunnyside, WA. and raise five children, Linda Gilhang, Barbara Strelecki, Keith Jr, Cami Neidigh, and Forest C. Sr.
She worked various departments in the hospitals, starting as a Nurses Aid in charge of newborn baby baths to an ER nurse working the night shift. Later, she changed direction and went into Administration, going back to school in the 70’s to become a Licensed Texas State Nursing Home Administrator.
During the years of raising their family, they lived in multiple states. Starting in Washington, they moved to Louisiana, back to Washington, then Texas back to Washington. After their children made their way into the world, they went to California for a while before finally settling in Washington.
After raising their children, they started “Bears from the Woods.” She designed and made collectible and custom-made Teddy Bears while he accessorized with the furniture and joints for the bears. After his untimely and sudden death at the age of 63, she continued traveling with the Teddy Bear shows on her own around the country until her health issues took away her ability to make the bears and travel.
To her children she was Mom, to her nieces and nephews she was their beloved Aunt Tootsie, her friends knew her as Geneva. When she got COVID and began recovering, Vice President Pence called her America’s Grandma Gennava Wood on National TV.
She is preceded in death by her husband Keith; all her siblings – brothers George, Charlie, Daniel, Jack, and Frank; sisters Ora and Alma; and her eldest daughter Linda.
She is survived by her remaining two daughters, two sons, six grandsons, four granddaughters, twelve great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Pastor Jeff Horton will host a memorial service at Shoreline Free Methodist Church.
There will be a memorial service on April 25th, one day after her would-be 97th birthday. We will send out more information later.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.