Obituary of Hugh C. Wood

Hugh C. Wood, Jr., 86, of 9111 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH, formerly of Panama, NY, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, in the Caprice Health Care Center, North Lima, OH. He was born June 26, 1931 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late Hugh C. and Elizabeth Harper Wood. Hugh was a 1949 graduate of Panama Central School and earned an Associate's Degree in Applied Science from Alfred Agricultural and Technical College in 1957 and his Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural from the University of Georgia. He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force serving from March 11, 1951 to March 10, 1955 in Japan during the Korean War. During his tour of duty he received the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Before his retirement he was employed as a conservation teacher at Erie 2-Chautauqua Cattaraugus BOCES for 28 years, working from the Hewes Educational Center in Ashville, NY. In earlier years he had worked for Agway from 1959-1969. Hugh was a longtime member of the Panama United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. He also served on the trustee board, was chairperson of the administrative board and the staff - pastoral relations committee. Hugh was very active in the Panama community having served as village of Panama trustee and was in partnership with Panama Rocks. He was also a member and Chairman of the building and grounds committee for the Jamestown Audubon Society. He served as President and Vice President for the Panama Central School Board, of which he was a member for 10 years. He was also a member of the Chautauqua County Vacationlands Association, a charter member of the Jamestown Harmony Express Chorus and the New York State Agricultural Education Curriculum Board. In 1983, he received the New York State Allis Chalmers Environmental Conservation Education Award. Surviving are his wife Gladys Michael Swanson Wood, two sons; Curtis H. (Patricia) Wood of Grand Blanc, MI, Jonathan J. (Carolyn) Wood of Stedman, NY, two grandsons; Caleb H. Wood of Grand Blanc, Collin F. Wood of Stedman, three step-children; Timothy (Sheryl) Swanson of Chesterland, OH, Jay (Alicia) Swanson of Cincinnati, OH, Amy (Shawn) Moore of Canfield, OH, several step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather who loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed carpentry, woodworking, flowers and spending time outdoors. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Charlotte Stage Wood whom he married August 27, 1955 and who died September 13, 2002. The funeral will be held at 11:00 am Monday in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor James D. Witherington, Jr, Hospice Chaplain will officiate. Burial will be in the Panama Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-5 pm Sunday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Jamestown Audubon Society, 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, NY 14701, Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750.