Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
John William Wood, who some knew as “John,” Bill,” “Billy,” or “Grandpa John” was born to Fredrick Wood and Gertrude Ferguson Wood in The Dalles, Ore., on Nov. 12, 1922. He came into this world with, but a couple of minutes ahead of, his twin brother, James Robert.
John (Bill) explored and pursued many varied and interesting things during his lifetime. He grew up in Trout Lake and attended most of his school years there, but opted to stay with relatives, and finish off the last year of high school in The Dalles.
John then joined the US Navy. He was stationed aboard the USS Lexington. The Lexington was stationed at Pearl Harbor but was “out of port” on that fateful December day that Pearl Harbor was bombed and so many lost their lives. John (Bill) was able, all of his life, to give a vivid descriptive account of what he saw when his ship returned to port a few days later. John was aboard the Lexington when it sank, and, later on, was interviewed for the book that was written about the “sinking of the Lexington.” John served as a radio operator on board the ship even repairing the radio on the airplane of famed world War II flying ace Butch O’Hare for whom O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named after.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, John (Bill) entered the growing business of electronics and television. He settled in Los Angeles. He was briefly married and has one child, a daughter Mary Lee Allaway of Trout Lake. He worked in this business in Los Angeles, Portland, and then Haines City, Fla.
But before moving to Florida, John William Wood set his feet on the path of life for which he is most proud and honored. He surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, and was baptized into Christ at the Hood River Church of Christ. He has been a tireless soldier of the cross all the remaining days of his life.
He served as a minister of the gospel for several different congregations from Haines City, Fla. to Forks,…and even talked of faith and eternity just hours before his death. He talked about the joy he felt knowing that he would soon see Jesus.
Another business he pursued in his lifetime was Amway. He traveled up and back across the United States with his tiny little dog, “Tiger.” For over a decade he built an Amway business that reached the level of “Pearl.” He worked in Forks, producing “Shake Bolts” and in Klickitat County as a timber faller.
He was a Golden Gloves boxing champion in his younger days. He owned an airplane and flew across the United States, and just a few years ago seriously considered buying another airplane and taking up flying again.
He just loved to keep on learning…and his bookshelves were filled with courses on physics, astronomy, and mathematics.
But…we can’t forget to mention “The Harley”! For over 30 years, he cruised the highways and byways of the Northwest on his Harley all the way into his 90s…an interesting life.
Recently he thoughtfully said he remembered people hitching up and riding in “horses and buggies” and yet now he sees the wonders of computers, the Hubble Telescope, and colonies that will live on Mars…
“…But eye has not seen nor ear heard nor has it entered the heart of man what God has planned for those that love him.”
John passed away on April 7, 2017, at the age of 94. He is survived by his daughter Mary Lee Allaway and her husband James of Trout Lake; grandson Jason Allaway and his wife Jennifer and great grandchildren Jackson, 10, Ava, 7, Graeson, 5, and Elise, 1 of Newberg, Ore.; granddaughter Rache Winter and her husband Stephen and great grandchildren Samuel, 6, and Michael, 4 of Everett; granddaughter Priscilla Bristow-Hanna and her husband Jebodiah and great grandchildren Liam, 11, River, 8, Eleanor, 4, and Gabrielle, 2 of Poulsbo; grandsons Robert Allaway and Louis Allaway both of Portland, Ore.; granddaughter Stephanie Allaway and great granddaughter Jezzireya, 6 of White Salmon; and granddaughters Eleesha Allaway and Jayden Allway.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Trout Lake Grange in Trout Lake at 1 p.m. Private burial was held earlier at the Trout Lake Cemetery.
To send condolences to John’s family, please visit www.gardnerfh.com.
To plant a tree in memory of John Wood as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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