Raymond Edwin "Ray" Wood

Ray Wood was born in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday, August 11, 1937 to William and Mary Jane Wood. He was the youngest of 4 children having 2 older sisters, Betty and Patty, and 1 older brother, Jim. He graduated from Toledo University with his Bachelor of Science degree in education and later pursued his Masters + 30 degree at Tennessee State University.

Ray grew up in Toledo and had many friends. He played Class A softball for Bergin Brothers at the Rec Center in Maumee and for the Toledo Ads. He enjoyed football and played in a federation league with the North Toledo Oldtimers Football Association. Ray combined his love for sports with his profession as a teacher at Macomber High School, where he taught and coached freshman and varsity football and varsity baseball.

He met the love of his life, Prudy Barton Wood, on a blind date and married her three months later. They have been a testimony of true love for the last 48 years. They raised three daughters: Terri Leath(Warren), Patti Frensley(Billy), and Karen Snyder (Danny). They were blessed with seven grandchildren: Brooke (Brandon), Adam (Kelly), Brandon, Zack, Daniel, Kendall, and Chase, and three great-grandchildren: Bryan, Barton, and Jackson.

To know Ray, was to know his love for our Lord. He modeled this love as much by his actions as he did his words. He started attending church services as a child simply so he could play sports within the church; however, when he married Prudy he insisted they attend regularly. This insistence produced a legacy that his children, his grand-children, and his great grand children are forever grateful for. Ray lived his faith daily.

Ray taught school for over 30 years. He ended his career as a guidance counselor, but his true love was coaching! Ray had a way with kids. He saw the good in people and seemed to understand what they needed. “Firm and fair” was his motto.

On days off, you could find Ray on the golf course, painting a house for some extra cash, at one of his kids/ grandkids activities, playing ball, or in front of the television. “Watching” T.V. was an art form for Ray. Somehow he could watch two ballgames at the same time and listen to one on the radio. Now, this might not seem like an art form until you watch him do it. He did it with his eyes closed while snoring. His kids learned not to even try to turn the station as this would immediately wake him. If questioned about any of the stats of any of the games he was watching, it became clear that, “yes”, somehow he really could watch three games and sleep at the same time.

His greatest love in life, however, only second to God was his family! He would do anything for them at any time and they all knew it! He left them a legacy of love and taught them what really matters in this world. Though he will be terribly missed, his family knows he is rejoicing now. “Well done my good and faithful servant” are the words he got to hear from our Lord and Savior on Wednesday morning, December 19, 2012.

Family and friends will gather to remember Ray at a graveside service Friday, December 21, 2012 at 3:00 in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 1150 S. Dickerson Rd. Goodlettsville, TN.

*Because Ray was such an advocate for At Risk Teens and the Just Say No club, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Oasis Center (oasiscenter.org)