Johnnie Eldridge Wood, loving mother and Mimi, passed away peacefully in her home on August 1, 2018. Johnnie was a native Killeenite and lived here the majority of her life. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was born in Wolfe City, Texas On February 10, 1945 to John and Dorothy Ann Eldridge. She was one of seven children, raised in Killeen, Texas and graduated from Killeen High School in 1963. She married her highschool sweetheart, Danny Wood, on December 19, 1964 and together they lovingly raised two daughters Laura Wood Bundrant and Leslie Wood Dippel. She worked as a court stenographer for the majority of her career. During the last years of her life, she was a loving caregiver for her father.
She had a beautiful alto voice and sang in the Killeen Kangaroo choir and First United Methodist Church chancel choir. Her daughters have vivid, happy memories of the family singing around the piano as she played. Her first and only priority was her family to whom she was completely devoted. Her love and dedication to her daughters was only surpassed by her love and dedication to her five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was happiest when she was with them simply being their Mimi.
She lived a simple and quiet life. If asked, she would say she did nothing special, but to everyone else she was the model of humility and selfless grace and generosity. She was a steadfast and loving presence not only in her own children’s lives but in the lives of her many nieces and nephews. They each have countless memories of her loving them and caring for them as if they were her own children, because in all of the important ways, they were. All will fondly remember her warm smile, open home, and chocolate pie.
She is survived by her children Laura Bundrant and her husband Donald of Killeen; Leslie Dippel and her husband David of Austin; father, John Eldridge of Killeen; sisters Jerry Wykes and her husband Richard of Killeen; Linda Gallaway and her husband Terry of Belton; Betty Shupp and her husband Terry of Rockwall; grandchildren Daniel Bundrant of Killeen; David Bundrant of Riverdale, Georgia; Avery, Joseph, and Christopher Dippel of Austin; great-grandchildren Aaden and Payton Bundrant of Killeen and Alana, Malea and Nevaeh Bundrant of Riverdale, GA ; and numerous nieces and nephews who all loved and adored her beyond measure. She was preceded in death by her mother Ann Eldridge, sister Judy Fogle, brother Butch Eldridge, and sister Julie Ashe.
Visitation will be at Crawford-Bowers funeral home on August 7, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church of Killeen on August 8, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at the Killeen City Cemetery.
