Respected Cedar City Resident Dies After Brief Illness
George Henry Wood, 83, one of the oldest native born residents of Cedar City, and one of the community's most colorful characters, died early Monday morning after a week's illness.
Funeral services were held in the First Ward chapel Wednesday afternoon, with the chapel filled with friends from many communities, gathered to pay tribute to a respected pioneer.
The services were conducted by George W. Grimshaw, and included talks by John S. Woodbury, H. H. Lunt, Bishop Samuel F. Leigh, and brief remarks by Bishop Grimshaw. The opening song, "Lead Kindly Light," was by a quartet composed of Mrs. Annette Betensen, Mrs. Belle Webster, Ray Cosslett and Miles Walker, accompanied by Mrs. J. S. Prestwich.
Other musical numbers included a solo by Don Wood, great-grandson of the deceased, "Take My Hand;" a solo, "I'm A Pilgrim," by Miles Walker, and the closing song, Oh, My Father," by the quartet.
Invocation was by Randall W. Lunt, benediction by Herbert W. Webster, and the dedication of the grave by George A. Wood.
Mr. Wood was born in Cedar City on December 29, 1856, a son of George and Mary Davis Wood, who were among the first settlers of Cedar City. He became a prominent cattleman and rancher of southern Utah, and in addition, participated in many pioneer activities and worked at various times as a freighter, stage coach driver and mail carrier.
He was elected to the Cedar City council in 1906 and had active charge of laying the water mains in the city, at the time the culinary water system was installed. He had served for many years as president of the Southwest Field Irrigation company and had been active in numerous other civic affairs.
On May 15, 1878, he married Elizabeth Ann Bryner in the St. George L. D. S. Temple. They reared 14 children 12 of whom survive. Mrs. Wood died three years ago.
Sons and daughters surviving are Franklin B., George A., William H., Roy, Preston, Rulon and Blanche Wood, Mrs. Mae Armstrong, Mrs. Verna Stephens and Mrs. Pauline Hunter of Cedar City; Carl Wood of Circleville and Mrs. Gwendola M. Jones of Enterprise; also surviving are 56 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Elizabeth W. Leigh, Mrs. Zylpha W. Urie, Mrs. Laura W. Jensen, Mrs. Ada W. Webster, all of Cedar City, and Mrs. Naomi W. Strong of San Bernardino, California.
(Iron County Record, Cedar City, Utah, October 17, 1940)