James Kenneth Wood, 84, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 18 at his home in Escalon.
Kenny Wood was born on Jan. 14, 1929 to Joseph and Pearl Wood in Blairsburg, Iowa and had been a resident of the Escalon area for the past 76 years.
He served in the US Army in the Korean War. After leaving the military, he worked as an electrician supervisor for 35 years. He also met and married his wife, Patricia. Together they shared 62 years of marriage.
Kenny and Pat were active in the Big Valley Drifters RV Club. He loved traveling with their best friends, Vern and Mable Plemmons. He also loved fishing and boating with their friends, Henry and Nita. Mr. Wood was a 55+ member of The Escalon American Legion Post 263. He and his wife would go out on Memorial Day to Burwood Cemetery to place flags on all the veterans’ graves.
The couple loved meeting their friends at Duck Island where they would camp and fish, which they did for 12 years. Mr. Wood was a family man who loved having his family over for BBQ’s and loved taking his grandkids camping. He also had a passion for gardening and growing his tomatoes, onions, and peppers that he would share with everyone he knew. He will be dearly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Jean Wood; his mother-in-law, Mrytle King; his son, James Robert Wood (Linda); his grandchildren, Robert Wood, Timothy Wood (Viviana), and Jamie Wood; his great grandchildren, Alexis, Jocelyn, Elijah and Sophia; and one great great grandchild, Arella; and his sister, Arlene Smith, along with several nieces, nephews and friends, as well as a loving sister-in-law and brother-in-law.
He was preceded in death by both parents, and his siblings, Thelma Valkus, Nona Gay, Eldon Wood, Warren Wood and Joe Wood.
Franklin & Downs funeral home in charge of arrangements. A graveside service was held on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Burwood Cemetery in Escalon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kenny’s name may be made to: Escalon Historical Society, 1630 Main St., Escalon, CA 95320 or Escalon Community Ambulance, 1480 Ullrey Ave., Escalon, CA 95320.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 28, 2013
