Wilma J. Wood
February 16, 1924 – January 21, 2022
With great sadness we announce the passing of Wilma J. Wood, our beloved Mom, Nana and Great-Grandma. Wilma died peacefully on the evening of Jan. 21, 2022, at South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center, Fla.
Wilma was born on Feb. 16, 1924, the youngest of four daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Dunn of Pittsburgh, Pa. She spent her youth, teen years and the first part of her adult life in Pittsburgh, where she met the man who would become her lifetime partner, Ray Allen "Woody" Wood. She and Woody were married on Nov. 10, 1951. They had two children, Wendy and Robert. In 1965 the family moved from Pittsburgh to Virginia Beach, Va. Wendy and Robert both married and made her the world's best Nana/Grandma with the blessing of three grandchildren – David (Kelsey), Jordan (Nikki), and Jennifer (Derek), and two great-grandchildren, Deandra and Jerome.
In 1990 she and Woody moved from Virginia Beach to Ruskin, Fla. In Ruskin, she was active with the Elks, Moose, VFW Auxiliary and, most of all, her beloved Ruskin Women's Club. Following Woody's death, she moved to Sun City Center. Wilma will be remembered for her dry wit, selfless demeanor and her million kilowatt smile that would light up any room.
Wilma was preceded in death by all her sisters; her husband Ray; and, sadly, her son Robert and daughter-in-law, Pamela. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Svajda; son-in-law, Dave; her three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of Wilma's life will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at the Elk's lodge on US 41 in Ruskin. Wilma requested that instead of sending flowers that will soon be gone, to please donate to the First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary in Riverview, Fla., to help fund their "Senior Cats for Senior Laps" program. This is where she found her cherished lap cuddling companion cat, Molly.
Wilma and Ray's remains will be scattered along the sea shore near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at their favorite fishing spot in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Wilma was born on Feb. 16, 1924, the youngest of four daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Dunn of Pittsburgh, Pa. She spent her youth, teen years and the first part of her adult life in Pittsburgh, where she met the man who would become her lifetime partner, Ray Allen "Woody" Wood. She and Woody were married on Nov. 10, 1951. They had two children, Wendy and Robert. In 1965 the family moved from Pittsburgh to Virginia Beach, Va. Wendy and Robert both married and made her the world's best Nana/Grandma with the blessing of three grandchildren – David (Kelsey), Jordan (Nikki), and Jennifer (Derek), and two great-grandchildren, Deandra and Jerome.
In 1990 she and Woody moved from Virginia Beach to Ruskin, Fla. In Ruskin, she was active with the Elks, Moose, VFW Auxiliary and, most of all, her beloved Ruskin Women's Club. Following Woody's death, she moved to Sun City Center. Wilma will be remembered for her dry wit, selfless demeanor and her million kilowatt smile that would light up any room.
Wilma was preceded in death by all her sisters; her husband Ray; and, sadly, her son Robert and daughter-in-law, Pamela. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Svajda; son-in-law, Dave; her three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of Wilma's life will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at the Elk's lodge on US 41 in Ruskin. Wilma requested that instead of sending flowers that will soon be gone, to please donate to the First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary in Riverview, Fla., to help fund their "Senior Cats for Senior Laps" program. This is where she found her cherished lap cuddling companion cat, Molly.
Wilma and Ray's remains will be scattered along the sea shore near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at their favorite fishing spot in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.