A native of Nashville, Leonard was born on April 6, 1932 to Leslie and Melba Wood. He graduated from Duncan Preparatory School for Boys and the University of the South (Sewanee) in 1954. He earned advanced degrees from Nashville School of Law and Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Leonard's professional life was dedicated to banking at Third National Bank (SunTrust) where he spent 45 years and retired as manager of Personal Trust. Prior to banking, Leonard served three years of active duty in the United States Air Force flying B-47's. He continued his service for 25 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
Leonard was married to Margaret Marshall Wood who died in 1984. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Marvin, and his stepson, Hal Rather. He married Clara Creighton Wood in 1992.
Leonard Wood was a quiet and calming presence, an avid reader who wrote book reviews for the Nashville Banner. He was a train enthusiast, a passion he inherited from his grandfather, an engineer with the L & N railroad. He was a Deacon and Elder at Woodmont Christian Church and at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville.
He served asPresident of the Nashville Chapter of the American
Cancer Society, Board President at the Belle Meade Plantation, and on the board of the Martha O'Brian Center.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Clara; beloved daughters, Beth Wood Turner (Tim) and Catherine Marshall Wood; grandchildren Ben Turner, Margaret Turner Gilbert (Zack); and stepdaughter Beth Rather Gorman (Steve) and children, Kate and Ryan.
Burial is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd at 10:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery, Thompson Lane. A visitation will take place at noon until 2:00 pm at Cheek House, First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville and a funeral service will follow in the Chapel at 2:00 pm. Another gathering will take place on May 22nd at Marshall Donnelly Combs Funeral Home from 4 to 7. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Centennial Medical Center and caregivers, Shena Beddingfield, Shara Mumphrey, Lamonte
Beddingfield, Margie Webb and Cathy Douglas for their kind care.
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