Harry Spencer Wood, former resident of the city of Pacific, went to be with his Lord on March 14, 2012 at his residence in Renton, just four days before his 89th birthday. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, April 19th, at 1:00 PM at Trinity Baptist Church of Renton at 18652 116th Avenue Southeast, Renton, WA 98058. There will be a reception following the service.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 18, 1923, Harry was second born of six children. His mother, Gracie Beatrice Woods died when he was nine years old, which left his father to raise them. Harry loved to tell the stories to his children and grandchildren of the hard times growing up during the Depression, being a “cotton picker” as he would tell it, living in a dugout on the plains with his family, surviving the Dust Bowl, and his adventures of hopping on freight trains and riding the rails.
His wanderings as a young man led him to Texas, California, and Portland, and other places with Seattle being his final frontier. There he landed a job at the National Biscuit Company where he met his first wife, Jacqueline Annetta Allen. They married on July 22, 1949 and raised two daughters as well as Jacqueline’s two sons. He worked for 20 plus years for the Rath Meat Packing Company in Seattle until the company relocated in the 1970’s. He then acquired a window washing business in downtown Auburn, Washington and settled in the city of Pacific. The locals knew him as a friendly, honest and loyal business owner who took great pride in his work. Several years after Jacqueline’s death in 1994, he met Virginia Raye Webb, fell in love and married her in 1999. They lived happily together, holding each other’s hands, enjoying visits from both of their families, and travelling until her death in 2007.
Harry was known by many for his friendly, generous and gentle spirit. He was always sharing the abundance of a well-tended garden where he cultivated wonderful flowers, fruits and vegetables. He also loved playing cards, Scrabble, and dominoes with family, friends and neighbors. He enjoyed friendly competition, winning many trophies and awards including a medal in horseshoes in the 1974 Senior Games in Spokane. Being a self-taught and creative man, he completed large and small projects to improve his home. His legacy remains in the beautiful grandfather clocks he built in his garage for each of his four children and their families.
Harry is survived by his children Nancy June (Cary) Feldmann of Renton, and Susan Annetta Schroeder of Carson City, NV; step-children Larry Phillip (Karen) Ekdahl of Longbranch, and Jimmie Roy (Karen) Ekdahl of Morton, Arlene Webb of Bothell, Diane (Arnie) Beckenhauer of Kailua Kona, Ha., and by his brother Paul Vincent (Ruth) Wood of Vancouver. Harry also leaves behind 13 grandchildren as well as 23 great- grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wives Jacqueline Annetta Allen and Virginia Raye Webb; father Lucius Charles Wood and mother Gracie Beatrice Woods; his siblings Robert Owen Wood, Gracie Frances Wood, Lawrence William Wood, and Charles Raymond Wood and great-grandchild Titus Gershom Liddle.
During his last years, Harry suffered from dementia but always remembered his favorite hymns and songs, which he would sing for his visitors and those caring for him… at any given moment! One of his favorites was “The Red River Valley” and if he could make it through the song without crying, the last line was “Just remember the Red River Valley and the cowboy who loved you so true.”
Dad, Grandpa, Brother and Friend…..we will never forget YOU.