James F. Wood

Merritt Island, FL

The earth lost, and Heaven gained, a one-of-a-kind person on Sunday, September 28, 2014, with the passing of James Franklin Wood, Lt Col USAF (Ret), 83, of Merritt Island, FL. Jim always had a plan--even to the last day of his life. He will always be remembered as a person dedicated to making life better for others, especially the children in his longtime hometown of Ruidoso, NM, where he played a pivotal role in founding the Optimists Club, and building a huge playground and youth center.

In the last month of his life Jim spent many hours figuring ways to help fund an orphanage in Mexico.

Jim was born on April 12, 1931 in La Junta, CO and moved with his family to Albuquerque, NM in 1940. He graduated from Albuquerque HS in 1949 and attended the University of New Mexico on an ROTC scholarship. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy and he graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1968 with a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

Jim married Lillie Vera Cooper in 1952. Together, they embarked on a career in the Air Force that led them to Reese AFB, TX; Kadena AB, Okinawa; Craig AFB, AL; Patrick AFB, FL; Indianapolis, IN, Tachikawa AB, Japan, Sheppard AFB, TX, and Scott AFB, IL. He retired in 1974.

Jim and Vera moved to Ruidoso, NM in 1991, and became very active members of Community United Methodist Church and enjoyed life in the beautiful mountains. They moved to Merritt Island, FL in 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Vera; daughter, Shelley Christian; son-in-law, Jim Christian; son, Gary Wood; brother, Ray Wood; sister, Janyce Smyth; and granddaughter, Caroline Christian.

A celebration of Jim's life will take place at 3pm on Saturday, October 4 at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. Condolences may be left at www.floridamemorialfh-gardens.com