William Willis Wood

Family will receive friends on Saturday, July 22, 2017 from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM at First Christian Church, 301 4th Street, Boonville, MO. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery with full military honors.

William “Bill” Wood was born on August 2, 1919 at Corder, MO the son of Edward Monroe and Edna (Bray) Wood who preceded him in death. He was married on May 3, 1941 in Kansas City, MO to Ruth Hays who preceded him in death on July 14, 2008. While living in Boonville, Mr. Wood was very community minded. He was a member of the Boonville Rotary Club, “Paul Harris” Award , where he served as President and chairman of many projects, a Member of the Boonslick Shrine Club, Master Mason, Knights Templer, and Royal Arch Mason. He was a former President of the Boonville Chamber of Commerce, member of the Boonville R1 School Board, member of VFW, member of American Legion, and former trustee of Kemper Military School and College. He was a member of the First Christian Church where he served as an Elder and Deacon while residing in Boonville. Mr. Wood was a co-owner of Thacher Wood Funeral Homes, serving the families of Cooper and Howard Counties for many years.

Mr. Wood was a commissioned Army Officer in the Combat Corps of Engineers serving as a Captain in the invasion of Normandy, Utah Beach, June 6, 1944. He was also in the battles of Ardennes; “Battle of the Bulge”; Central Europe; Rhineland and Northern France. His decorations included European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrowhead; American Defense Service Ribbon; Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. Years later, he was presented from the people of Normandy the Medal of the Region. He was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army at the rank of Major on December 7, 1953.

Survivors include one son, William P. Wood of Sarasota, FL; one daughter, Katherine Wood Murdock (Charles) of Lake Ozark, MO; two grandchildren, Charles Kevin Murdock (Amy) of Columbia, MO and Kimberly Tarango (Shawn) of Ft. Wayne, IN; three great grandchildren, Caden Tarango and Caleb Tarango of Ft. Wayne, IN and Ty Murdock of Columbia, MO and several nephews and a niece. He was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 301 4th Street, Boonville, MO 65233 or Central Missouri Honor Flight, 1400 Forum Blvd, Ste 1-C, Columbia, MO.