Lewis Frank Wood, 92, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.
He was born March 8, 1917 in Pine Bluff, son of the late Frank and Georgia Clement Wood.
Mr. Wood was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff and Grapevine. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1936.
After various jobs, he went to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad, and worked there until his retirement in 1983.
Soon after, he became interested in the conditions of the blue collar workers and spent the rest of his life fighting for their rights.
He joined the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and served at all levels. He started out as chairman of the local union, and retired as an International General Vice President of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of United States and Canada. He lobbied at the state level, and spent time in Washington, D.C., lobbying in the U.S. Congress.
Mr. Wood was known throughout the area as "That Union Man," a name he was proud to have. Even after his retirement, he was active in union affairs, and stayed involved in their activities.
Lewis loved music of all types. Although he had no formal training, he had a natural talent. Mr. Wood began playing for dances at the age of 13, and throughout his teen years, earned his spending money from that source.
Lewis, while still in high school, was a member of the Harmony Boys that sang on a local radio station. Before his illness, he was still singing with the Breakfast Singers that sang at the Wednesday morning prayer breakfast, held at First Methodist Church.
Mr. Wood was chairman of the Red Cross Board from 1963-1965.
He was a member of the Democratic Central Committee for a number of years and remained active in the Democratic party.
Mr. Wood was also a member of the Jacob Brump Lodge No. 160.
He was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and was Master of Ceremonies at their 50th anniversary homecoming. Mr. Wood served as the first Sunday School superintendent, was a Sunday school teacher, choir leader, a member of the choir, a former youth leader, and remained active in the church activities, as long as his health would permit.
After his retirement, Lewis and his wife, Katie, traveled throughout the world. They traveled behind the Iron Curtain, walked the Great Wall of China, toured India, Australia and the Holy Land, studying and learning the cultures of other people.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Lucille Ryburn; two brothers, Otha and Dalton; an infant sister, and a grandson, Richard Fox.
Survivors include his wife, the former Kathryn Wills, whom he married May 27, 1978 in Pine Bluff; three daughters, Linda Hunter of Houston, Jean Nixon of Star City, Joan Clowers of Pine Bluff; sister, Lois Marie Ward of Sheridan; three step-daughters, Georgia Wills and Kathy Rimmer both of Tulsa, Okla., and Susie Fox of Winona, Minn.; 13 grandchildren, Tiffany Turner, Todd Hunter, Toby Hunter, Brian Reynolds, Kevin Reynolds, Leah Beth Ralston, Amy Brotherman, Carrie Bottjer, Jonathan Matthews, Jef Fox, Rachel Fox, Scott Nixon and Brad Nixon; 15 great-grandchildren; two nephews, and many cousins and other relatives.
February 21, 2010 | Pine Bluff Commercial (AR)
He was born March 8, 1917 in Pine Bluff, son of the late Frank and Georgia Clement Wood.
Mr. Wood was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff and Grapevine. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1936.
After various jobs, he went to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad, and worked there until his retirement in 1983.
Soon after, he became interested in the conditions of the blue collar workers and spent the rest of his life fighting for their rights.
He joined the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and served at all levels. He started out as chairman of the local union, and retired as an International General Vice President of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of United States and Canada. He lobbied at the state level, and spent time in Washington, D.C., lobbying in the U.S. Congress.
Mr. Wood was known throughout the area as "That Union Man," a name he was proud to have. Even after his retirement, he was active in union affairs, and stayed involved in their activities.
Lewis loved music of all types. Although he had no formal training, he had a natural talent. Mr. Wood began playing for dances at the age of 13, and throughout his teen years, earned his spending money from that source.
Lewis, while still in high school, was a member of the Harmony Boys that sang on a local radio station. Before his illness, he was still singing with the Breakfast Singers that sang at the Wednesday morning prayer breakfast, held at First Methodist Church.
Mr. Wood was chairman of the Red Cross Board from 1963-1965.
He was a member of the Democratic Central Committee for a number of years and remained active in the Democratic party.
Mr. Wood was also a member of the Jacob Brump Lodge No. 160.
He was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and was Master of Ceremonies at their 50th anniversary homecoming. Mr. Wood served as the first Sunday School superintendent, was a Sunday school teacher, choir leader, a member of the choir, a former youth leader, and remained active in the church activities, as long as his health would permit.
After his retirement, Lewis and his wife, Katie, traveled throughout the world. They traveled behind the Iron Curtain, walked the Great Wall of China, toured India, Australia and the Holy Land, studying and learning the cultures of other people.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Lucille Ryburn; two brothers, Otha and Dalton; an infant sister, and a grandson, Richard Fox.
Survivors include his wife, the former Kathryn Wills, whom he married May 27, 1978 in Pine Bluff; three daughters, Linda Hunter of Houston, Jean Nixon of Star City, Joan Clowers of Pine Bluff; sister, Lois Marie Ward of Sheridan; three step-daughters, Georgia Wills and Kathy Rimmer both of Tulsa, Okla., and Susie Fox of Winona, Minn.; 13 grandchildren, Tiffany Turner, Todd Hunter, Toby Hunter, Brian Reynolds, Kevin Reynolds, Leah Beth Ralston, Amy Brotherman, Carrie Bottjer, Jonathan Matthews, Jef Fox, Rachel Fox, Scott Nixon and Brad Nixon; 15 great-grandchildren; two nephews, and many cousins and other relatives.
February 21, 2010 | Pine Bluff Commercial (AR)
Lewis Frank Wood, 92, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.
He was born March 8, 1917 in Pine Bluff, son of the late Frank and Georgia Clement Wood.
Mr. Wood was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff and Grapevine. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1936.
After various jobs, he went to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad, and worked there until his retirement in 1983.
Soon after, he became interested in the conditions of the blue collar workers and spent the rest of his life fighting for their rights.
He joined the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and served at all levels. He started out as chairman of the local union, and retired as an International General Vice President of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of United States and Canada. He lobbied at the state level, and spent time in Washington, D.C., lobbying in the U.S. Congress.
Mr. Wood was known throughout the area as "That Union Man," a name he was proud to have. Even after his retirement, he was active in union affairs, and stayed involved in their activities.
Lewis loved music of all types. Although he had no formal training, he had a natural talent. Mr. Wood began playing for dances at the age of 13, and throughout his teen years, earned his spending money from that source.
Lewis, while still in high school, was a member of the Harmony Boys that sang on a local radio station. Before his illness, he was still singing with the Breakfast Singers that sang at the Wednesday morning prayer breakfast, held at First Methodist Church.
Mr. Wood was chairman of the Red Cross Board from 1963-1965.
He was a member of the Democratic Central Committee for a number of years and remained active in the Democratic party.
Mr. Wood was also a member of the Jacob Brump Lodge No. 160.
He was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and was Master of Ceremonies at their 50th anniversary homecoming. Mr. Wood served as the first Sunday School superintendent, was a Sunday school teacher, choir leader, a member of the choir, a former youth leader, and remained active in the church activities, as long as his health would permit.
After his retirement, Lewis and his wife, Katie, traveled throughout the world. They traveled behind the Iron Curtain, walked the Great Wall of China, toured India, Australia and the Holy Land, studying and learning the cultures of other people.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Lucille Ryburn; two brothers, Otha and Dalton; an infant sister, and a grandson, Richard Fox.
Survivors include his wife, the former Kathryn Wills, whom he married May 27, 1978 in Pine Bluff; three daughters, Linda Hunter of Houston, Jean Nixon of Star City, Joan Clowers of Pine Bluff; sister, Lois Marie Ward of Sheridan; three step-daughters, Georgia Wills and Kathy Rimmer both of Tulsa, Okla., and Susie Fox of Winona, Minn.; 13 grandchildren, Tiffany Turner, Todd Hunter, Toby Hunter, Brian Reynolds, Kevin Reynolds, Leah Beth Ralston, Amy Brotherman, Carrie Bottjer, Jonathan Matthews, Jef Fox, Rachel Fox, Scott Nixon and Brad Nixon; 15 great-grandchildren; two nephews, and many cousins and other relatives.
February 21, 2010 | Pine Bluff Commercial (AR)
He was born March 8, 1917 in Pine Bluff, son of the late Frank and Georgia Clement Wood.
Mr. Wood was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff and Grapevine. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1936.
After various jobs, he went to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad, and worked there until his retirement in 1983.
Soon after, he became interested in the conditions of the blue collar workers and spent the rest of his life fighting for their rights.
He joined the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and served at all levels. He started out as chairman of the local union, and retired as an International General Vice President of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of United States and Canada. He lobbied at the state level, and spent time in Washington, D.C., lobbying in the U.S. Congress.
Mr. Wood was known throughout the area as "That Union Man," a name he was proud to have. Even after his retirement, he was active in union affairs, and stayed involved in their activities.
Lewis loved music of all types. Although he had no formal training, he had a natural talent. Mr. Wood began playing for dances at the age of 13, and throughout his teen years, earned his spending money from that source.
Lewis, while still in high school, was a member of the Harmony Boys that sang on a local radio station. Before his illness, he was still singing with the Breakfast Singers that sang at the Wednesday morning prayer breakfast, held at First Methodist Church.
Mr. Wood was chairman of the Red Cross Board from 1963-1965.
He was a member of the Democratic Central Committee for a number of years and remained active in the Democratic party.
Mr. Wood was also a member of the Jacob Brump Lodge No. 160.
He was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and was Master of Ceremonies at their 50th anniversary homecoming. Mr. Wood served as the first Sunday School superintendent, was a Sunday school teacher, choir leader, a member of the choir, a former youth leader, and remained active in the church activities, as long as his health would permit.
After his retirement, Lewis and his wife, Katie, traveled throughout the world. They traveled behind the Iron Curtain, walked the Great Wall of China, toured India, Australia and the Holy Land, studying and learning the cultures of other people.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Lucille Ryburn; two brothers, Otha and Dalton; an infant sister, and a grandson, Richard Fox.
Survivors include his wife, the former Kathryn Wills, whom he married May 27, 1978 in Pine Bluff; three daughters, Linda Hunter of Houston, Jean Nixon of Star City, Joan Clowers of Pine Bluff; sister, Lois Marie Ward of Sheridan; three step-daughters, Georgia Wills and Kathy Rimmer both of Tulsa, Okla., and Susie Fox of Winona, Minn.; 13 grandchildren, Tiffany Turner, Todd Hunter, Toby Hunter, Brian Reynolds, Kevin Reynolds, Leah Beth Ralston, Amy Brotherman, Carrie Bottjer, Jonathan Matthews, Jef Fox, Rachel Fox, Scott Nixon and Brad Nixon; 15 great-grandchildren; two nephews, and many cousins and other relatives.
February 21, 2010 | Pine Bluff Commercial (AR)
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