Thomas Albert Wood Jr.

Thomas Albert Wood Jr was born on April 7, 1929 in Crab Orchards, West Virginia. He was the middle son of Thomas Albert and Lilly “Hester” Wood. Tom passed away on August 22, 2016 at the age of 87 in Portland Oregon. Tom had 4 sisters, Pansy, Margret, Lois, and Dorothy and two brothers, Ernie and Lloyd.

Tom grew up on a small family farm in Crab Orchard West Virginia. On the farm, Tom helped the family grow tomatoes, corn, cabbage and other vegetables that they sold in the mining camps. They also had a cow. Some of Tom’s earliest memories were selling tomatoes in the mining camp and feeding the cow. Tom moved to Scholls, Oregon with his family when he was in the eight grade.

At the age of 16, Tom was off to see the world by joining the merchant marines. He worked as an “oiler” on the liberty ships. His job was to apply oil to the bearings on the ship. He recalled traveling to many different cities in the Pacific.

At the age of 19, Tom got married and had his son Ron in 1949. With the start of the Korean war in 1950, Tom enlisted in the Air Force and served 4 years in the Air Force. Tom spent time in Japan working at the radar installations and had many memories of his time in Japan. He returned to the merchant marines after the war.

In 1960, Tom married Phyllis Kangas and started their life together living in Portland. In 1962, they had their daughter Nancy. Phyllis was the love of Tom’s life as they were together for 55 years.

Tom worked 5 years at the Oregonian publishing company in the print room where the papers were published. Following the Oregonian, he joined with his brother, Lloyd in building homes. From there, Tom started the TAW Drywall company that he managed until he retired in 1994.

Tom’s hobbies were working on his home and restoring his 1957 Ford Retract. Tom purchased a 1900’s Sears farm house in the 1962 and over the next 30 years worked to remodel every inch of the home. Tom had purchased his 1957 Ford new and in his retirement years went about restoring his car to its original luster.

Tom enjoyed traveling with Phyllis. They purchased three different motor homes and travelled many of the states. The more notable trips were to Yellowstone, Disneyland, Hawaii, Alaska, and time spent in West Virginia visiting his Wood family. In 1993, Phyllis and Tom purchased a beach cabin in Netarts Oregon where they enjoyed spending their weekends.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis who died in 2015. Tom is survived by his son Ron (wife Donita), daughter Nancy (husband Rick), and five grandchildren: Michelle Niska, Timothy Niska, Rachel Larsen, Jacob Niska, and Joseph Niska