William Ernest Wood

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for William Ernest Wood, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

Bill was born on March 22, 1935 in Erieau, Ontario. He was the son of Carl & Evelyn Wood. Raised a bit in Erieau, Windsor, and Dearborn Michigan, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Bill was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, he was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if he was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, he also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Bill was raised with four siblings. He had two younger brothers, Robert and Donald and two younger sisters, Ruth Anne and Joyce. Bill was constantly involved in activities with his family. He and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Bill was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Bill was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, he was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Bill took part in a number of activities as a child, he was very mechanically inclined, and love to work on cars and machinery. He also enjoyed boxing and basketball. In his spare time he liked working on cars, do body work, engine rebuilding, and even try to make a car out of junkyard parts.

Bill enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. He was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Bill was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from W. D. Lowe Technical in 1953. Bill enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Shop.

Most folks would say that Bill was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. William was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, he best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that Bill made, he kept. While growing up, some of his best friends were John Huffman, Bob George, and Jerry Legault. Later in life, he became friends with Bob & Cathy George, Wilf & Rose Renaud, Larry & Fran Glendenning and Maura & John Hudson.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Bill. On November 5, 1955 Bill married Beverley Jeanette McFadden at Our Lady of Guadalupe of Windsor, Ontario. He was totally committed to Beverley and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Bill naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although he disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Bill was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Bill was reluctant to force issues and instead used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Bill was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Bill and Beverley were blessed with three children, two daughters, Eileen and Patricia (Patti-Ann) (Dave Tootill) and one son, William (Bill). They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Jennifer, Ryan, Brandon and Katie, six great grandchildren, Devonte, Elizabeth, Ethan, Emily, Blake and Tyler and one great great grandchild.

If you gave Bill a deadline, he would meet it. At work, he was always on task. Without hesitation, he could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as a real estate agent along with a heavy machinery operator and set up specialist. He was employed for many years at various real estate firms in Windsor such as Valente, Champion, Deerbook and Atlas . As a young man he was employed by American Standard in the Detroit area specializing in set-up & running of the lines. William excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Bill was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, he had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties. These traits served him very well in his career as a Real Estate Agent, where he was known as a man of integrity, honesty and one you could trust. A true gentleman.

Bill liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Bill’s choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, he preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were crossword puzzles, billiards and his computer. As a young man he enjoyed bowling, boxing and basketball. William was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Bill often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, Bill played basketball and participated in boxing. Recreational sports included bowling and billiards. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with William had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. He loved to fly and his favorite vacations included Cocoa Beach Florida, England and France.

When Bill finally retired around 2004, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. Even in retirement, he continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Bill passed away unexpectedly on September 6, 2014 at Windsor Regional Hospital Metropolitan Campus due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife Beverley, his children Eileen, Patricia (Dave Tootill) and Bill, his grandchildren Jennifer, Ryan, Brandon and Katie, his six great grandchildren, Ethan, Emily, Blake and Tyler, and one great great grandchild. Services were held at Walter D. Kelly Life Celebration Centre. Bill was laid to rest in Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor Ontario.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Bill was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. He was a man of integrity, trustworthy, pragmatic, kind, and gentle, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. William Wood was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with him. He was a hell of guy….He will be missed.

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WOOD, William Ernest

Passed away suddenly at 79 years of age on Saturday, September 6, 2014. Beloved Husband of Beverley (nee McFadden) for 59 years. Dear and loving Father of Eileen Wood, Patricia Tootill (Dave), and Bill Wood. Loving Grampa to Jennifer, Ryan (Michelle), Brandon (Stephanie) and Katie (Jordan). Survived as well by 6 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Much loved brother of Joyce Jodway. Predeceased by siblings Donald Wood and Ruth Ann MacKenzie. William was a retired real estate agent known for his honesty and integrity. He learned responsibility at a young age and spent his life helping others in need. He will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he has touched. Visitation will take place at the Walter D. Kelly Life Celebration Centre (1969 Wyandotte St.E.) on Tuesday from 5-9 pm. A Celebration of his life will take place Wednesday September 10 at 11:00 AM in the chapel. Interment to follow at Victoria Memorial Gardens. Donations to the Alzheimer's Society would be appreciated by the family.

He was a hell of a guy.