Jo Frances Wood

Jo Frances (Gibson) Wood was born December 10, 1931, to Calvin Talmege and Opal Gibson in Choctaw, OK. Her younger brother and sister, Calvin gibson and Garnetta Robinson, preceded her in death. The family farmed and worked in Choctaw. She attended school in Choctaw and eventually graduated as valedictorian from Choctaw High School. Jo Frances met her future husband , Leroy Wood, at TAFB, where they both began work following high school. They were married on Dec. 2, 1951, at the Marshall Street Church of Christ of Midwest City. Leroy and Jo Frances were instrumental in planting the Del City Church of Christ, where they served faithfully for 73 years. Before their first anniversary, duty called, and Leroy deployed to Korea to serve in the army . Following his return from duty, Leroy and Jo Frances raised two children, Karen Farrell (husband Paul) and Kevin Wood (wife Christie). Jo Frances delighted in her grandkids, Madison Banks and wife Sarah, Brian Wood, and Ciarra Wood. Her newest joy is her great-granddaughter, Zoe Katherine Banks. In the last six years since moving to Edmond, they worshiped at the New Hope Church of Christ while maintaining their "legacy membership" at Del City. Several people at New Hope had been at Del City at some point and were thrilled to reconnect with them.

If you asked Jo Frances what her priorities were in life, she would respond: God, family, and service to the Lord's church. She served faithfully through the years as children's Bible school coordinator, VBS Coordinator, 5th grade Bible class teacher, Meals on Wheels volunteer, visitation program, and many other works as needed. Her focus was always on what she could do next for the Lord's church and her family. Mama Jo was dedicated to Bible school, Woody (Leroy), and family.

Jo's hobbies included sewing, gardening, cooking, a deep love for singing and joyous adventures at Lake Tenkiller, in Gore, OK. She was blessed with a talent for music and was featured singing on the radio by the time she was 5 years old. During her teen years, she enjoyed being in school plays and musicals. Lake Tenkiller was home away from home as Woody and Jo joined several young families from Del City spending every vacation moment together camping, fishing, skiing, and eating homemade ice cream at the lake. On Sunday's they would worship outside, bringing folding chairs, and inviting others to come join. those joyous trips were grounded in their love for the Lord. "Skipping church" was not in Woody and Jo's vocabulary. It didn't matter where they were, service to the Lord was top priority.

Jo left Tinker to raise her family and then returned to work at Tinker when Kevin was in high school. She retired from her career at TAFB as Logistics Control Officer for the AWACS in the European theatre at age 55. Her aptitude in this area was equally as amazing as her vocal music talent.

Jo lived her whole life to serve God and take care of others. She loved the Lord with all her heart, and her family saw that faithfulness lived out every day. She always worked tirelessly to make sure her children, grandkids and church kids were grounded in the faith and secure in her loving care. We now rejoice as she has gone on to her reward, in the arms of Christ. She has finished the race and is victorious through Christ her Savior. Today she is singing with the angels in heaven.