Bobby Gaines Wood

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Jonesboro

Retired Brigadier General Bobby Gaines Wood, 76, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at St. Bernards Medical Center.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Wood; two sons and their wives, Dr. Mark and Laura Wood of Jonesboro an d Bob and Terri Wood of Cookville, Tenn.; one daughter and her husband, Becky and Doug Frederick of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren, Cole Wood, Gretchen Wood, Isabella Wood, Hallie Frederick and Michael Frederick all of Jonesboro, Brian Wood and Laura Wood of Cookeville and Jill Kelly Talbert of Nashville, Tennessee.

He was born March 19, 1931, in Lake City, the only child of Gaines E. and Hallie Bob Wood. Mr. Wood was a lifelong resident of Craighead County. He was a 1949 graduate of Lake City High School and a 1953 graduate of Arkansas State University. While a student at ASU, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Upon graduation, he was awarded an Army ROTC commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the corps of artillery. In his 33 years of military service, he served in active duty during the Korean War. In the Army National Guard, he attained the rank of Brigadier General, served as the commander of the 875th Engineer Battalion and the Arkansas Assistant State Adjutant General.

Bobby G. Wood represented Craighead County in the Arkansas General Assembly for ten terms from 1977-1996. As state representative, he served as House Chairman of the Legislative Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs, was a member of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the House City, County and Local Affairs Committee and the Legislative Council. He also served on the Joint Interim Oversight Committee on Higher Education Reform and the Federal Budget and Taxation Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

He retired as business manager and part owner of Delta Gas & Oil and Delta Farms, Inc. of Lake City. He maintained an interest in investments, farming and real estate was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro serving as a church deacon.

Active in community affairs, Mr. Wood was a charter member and past president of the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of Military Officers Association of America, a director and former president of Abilities Unlimited of Jonesboro, past president and member of the ASU Alumni Association, past president of the Jonesboro Jaycees, a member of the University Heights Lion club, and a member of the ASU Fast Break Club. He was inducted into the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes and was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the ASU Alumni Association in 2007.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro with Rev. Bruce Tippit officiating. A private family burial will be held at Pine Log Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Box, Charles Frierson, Leon Lee, Charles Moore, D.B. Price, Albert Qualls, Donald Timms, Alvin Turner, Fellowship Sunday School Class- First Baptist Church and the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the First Baptist Church Care Center or the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Wood family at www.greggfunerals.com