Paul Joseph Wood

On the evening of April 22, 2025, Paul, and the love of his life, Dotti, his wife, entered a moving and lengthy discussion of their many memories of 30+ years together; family, careers, and traveling the world. They each confirmed that their faith was strong in Christ, and agreed that when the time came for them to part in this life, they would reunite again in heaven. Those final words were spoken to each other only a few hours before Paul moved to his eternal home, at 2:14 a.m., on April 23, 2025. He was 87 years young.

Paul Wood was born on Oct. 4, 1937, in Chattanooga, TN.

Paul is survived by his wife, Dotti Welch Wood. Daughter Doreen Wood Vaughn, and her husband Jerry; son Ronne Wood, and his wife, Connie; daughter, Jeanette Wood; daughter Susan Wood Cline, and her husband, Richard; step-daughter, Darla Welch Morgan, and her husband Tommy; step-daughter Kari Welch Leone, and her husband Michael; step-son, Joe Welch, and his wife Barbara; and, step-daughter Shannon Roberts.

Paul was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren, and 10 step-great grandchildren. Paul claimed all as his own – a total of 19 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren - ALL of whom adored him, and he was imprinted on each of their lives.

Paul’s career began delivering papers in the 1940s. Paul had a strong voice talent, which he realized and used throughout his life, thanks to his high school speech teacher, who, as he said, changed the course of his life. Kari, his step-daughter, recorded the conversation with him, sharing his story, and is currently on U-Tube. In Paul’s words, his teacher told him, “You have a good voice, and you seem smart - and you are smart, and you need to let the world know that, and that you can handle anything, in the world of language.” That was “the beginning of the rest of his life”, as Paul summarized that experience.

Paul moved to northern California when a senior in high school. He married his late wife of 15 years, Deanne, and his 4 children were born in California. There he attended San Francisco State University and began his career in insurance, finance and banking. He and his family moved to Panama for 3 years where he developed housing communities. Thereafter, he and his family moved to Orlando, Florida, where he joined American Federal Savings and Loan, and was instrumental in the development of various new communities, and the thriving subdivision of Quail Hollow of Winter Park, where his 4 children grew up.

Paul later accepted a position with Arlington Heights Federal Savings and Loan, in the Chicago area, and moved there with his late wife, Janice, 2 daughters, and step-daughter. He became President and CEO, and remained with the organization for 16 years. Taking early retirement and moving to Spruce Pine, NC, he built a beautiful home, which he shared with his late wife, Janice, until 1993.

Returning to Orlando in 1994, Paul met and married Dotti. Paul remained engaged in financial investments, voice overs, and Community Association Management positions. Paul and Dotti returned to California in 2011. They resided in Carlsbad, where Paul most recently enjoyed working at Ace Hardware in Carlsbad Village for 7 years, serving and helping his customers, as he would’ve wanted to be helped. Paul was a man of understanding and empathy.

Paul had many hobbies and talents. From his creative drawings and sculptures, to fishing. He would travel to find the best fishing areas from the Amazon in Peru to Alaska, to deep-sea fishing.

Paul had a big heart and found most of his joy through his family and friends. His values, traits and character will live on through his children, son, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his extended family, and all others who called him friend.