The last time four of us would be together...
Bill Wood, Barbara Wood Mix MacMillan, Althea Mix-Bryan, David Mix

One night shortly after mother’s funeral, the five of her children were sitting in the living room in a circle, on the floor.  Jack said “this is probably the last time all of us will be together alive.  Such an eerie feeling, but so true.  Three years later (2005) Jack died;  and then there were 4. Barbara died in 2016; and then there were 3.  Now Bill died and now there are two.  The cycle of life.

L to R Bill Wood, Fran Wood, Jack Wood, Barbara Wood MacMillan, John Macmillan, Julie Steinbach Mix, David Mix

An incredible day where most of the remaining members of Dorothy's brother's & sisters & their families traveled the country to celebrate the 90 bday of her birthday June 2002.   L to R Bill Wood, Althea Mix-Bryan, Dorothy Kastner Wood Mix, David Mix, Barbara Wood Mix MacMillan, Jack Wood.

Bill was one of my four big brothers. We were part of a blended family of seven children. Bill was the oldest of the three Wood children from my mother’s first marriage. My brother Jack Wood (passed in 2005) and my older sister, Barbara Wood-MacMillan (passed in 2016). My mother had her hands full with Bill and Jack. Jack would think up a prank to do and Bill would do it. Once they were staying at a relative’s home. The wood floor in the living room was freshly varnished, and they took Barbara’s shoes while she was taking a nap (she was little at the time) and they walked her shoes on the freshly varnished (still tacky) wood floor leaving the foot prints in the varnish. So, Barbara was initially blamed for that, and she was mad at them for years as she caught hell for it. Another time, Bill got into a truck on the farm in Auburn NY when he was little. Since he could not reach the pedals from the seat, he sat on the floor, started the truck and worked the clutch and gas pedals from the floor. He steered while sitting on the floor (without being able to see where he was going). He ran it into the well; he got his bottom dusted well by Mother for that (scared the heck out of her). Bill often talked of playing cowboys and Indians with Jack. They would shoot at each other with BB guns. Bill said it did not hurt much when hit if they wore parkas. My brother Bill also was married several times. Mother could not understand that -she asked Bill this question: if you keep changing women the way you change your underwear, why to you keep marrying them? He just had a good laugh at that. My brother Bill enjoyed life as well as his family in Texas. I will miss him. My condolences to his Texas family.

Bill and Barbara Jean's family at Mom's house in Rochester NY. Danny, Kenny, Charlotte, and Donnie. Circa 1965.

Bill actually shoving some snow; He wore sneakers for this rather than his cowboy boots. He liked to come up to Rochester to see snow from time to time. Circa 1996.

Bill and Fran were visiting John and Barbara (sister) at their home in Orange City FL circa 1998.

Bill came up to visit summer 1981. The white birch campsite was where his sister, Barbara, kept her travel trailer for the summer at Sodus Point NY (on the shores of Lake Ontario).

Bill was always finding a way to goof-off. In this picture, he was riding my new tractor on Christmas while mother was telling him in no uncertain terms to get off before he broke it. The easiest way to get off was to fall over. Which he did laughing the whole time. Circa Christmas 1959.

Bill and Barbara Jean's first born, Danny. Circa 1959. Taken in the living room of Mom's home in Rochester NY. Bill and his family lived a few streets away at the time; he worked at one of the Marina's on the Genesee River

Bill was always fun to be around. Taken in the kitchen of Mom's home Rochester NY Summer 1992.

Bill and Fran heading back home after visiting Summer 1992.

Bill and Mom Circa 1998. Taken at home in Rochester NY.

Brother Bill trying to ride his push bike in the snow. Picture taken on the farm the Wood family lived on in Auburn NY.  Circa 1935

My brother Bill at about the age of 16 (circa 1950) outside our parents home in Rochester NY. Note his full head of hair!

We met Bill when his granddaughter Heather married our son Travis.
Stories of traveling on his motorcycle and adventures were exciting and enjoyable to listen to. Each time we all gathered it was a nice time as Bill was such a pleasure to be around. He will be missed.

OBITUARY

William Charles Wood

December 25, 1935 – March 21, 2024

American Heritage Funeral Home

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