Edith Wood Obituary

EDITH M. WOOD
November 21, 1922 ˜ July 7, 2022

On July 7, 2022, Edith Marie Wood joined the love of her life, John “Jack” Wood, in heaven. We know Jack’s been tapping his foot impatiently up there for 19 years, awaiting her arrival for their blissful reunion.
Born in Lankin, ND, on Nov. 21, 1922, to parents Robert and Mayme Norman, Edith was the second eldest child and first female of 12 children. She was responsible for younger siblings at a tender age. She often told tales about her childhood - which were humorous with 20/20 hindsight but some were nearly disastrous mishaps. Like the time Edith was in charge, and all the kids thought it would be fun to light pieces of paper on fire atop the wood stove, to watch them fly into the air and disappear into smoke and ash. Miraculously, no one was hurt and the house didn’t burn down. In the 1930s on the farm, there were no video games, no TV, not even a radio so this was entertainment! Edith also recalled that at age five she was left in the farmhouse to care for her baby sister, Lorraine, and two brothers. She had to light the wood stove to warm the water, to give Lorraine her bath. Thankfully again, all went well!
A child of The Depression, Edith never lost the memory of those years of hardship and struggle. Like many in The Greatest Generation, she was a devotee of ‘Reduce/Reuse/Recycle’. Her entire life, she never let anything go to waste and repurposed everything from aluminum foil, produce bags and yogurt cups, to name a few.
Edith realized her calling at a young age to become a nurse, earning her RN degree in 1944. She worked in that capacity at a Native American reservation and other sites before joining the U.S. Army to serve her country, rising to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. This is also where she met her future husband Jack he was a patient, she was his nurse in an Army hospital during WWII. Life would never be the same for Edith! They married, moved to military bases from Japan (son John was born) to Fort Riley, KS (sons Kevin and Jim were born), and eventually landed in Vancouver, WA (daughter Cindy was born), where they remained for the rest of their lives. After her honorable discharge from the Army, Edith went on to complete her career as a pediatric nurse at The Vancouver Clinic, putting in a remarkable 56 years at her profession.
Her sense of humor, like those of her sisters, was legendary among the family. She could tell a funny story and have the audience howling. Edith was also a prolific poetess, writing hundreds of verses for family and friends, and about her devotion to God.
For her family, Edith created the most magical Christmases every year, decorating her home to the smallest detail so all the kids (and later, grandkids) would know about both the wonder of Jesus’ birth as well as Santa’s visits. The Easter Bunny always made a stop at the house, leaving baskets filled with goodies and what seemed like a hundred brightly colored eggs to search for, both indoors and out. For many years, Sunday dinners after church were a time of great food and lots of laughter. Edith always made sure that birthday gatherings were joyous occasions.
The things she loved: Her faith, singing in the St. Joe’s choir for several decades, angels, all the family pets, good jokes, crossword puzzles, fluffy clouds and a favorite sweet bun recipe.
The people she loved, and there are so many: Those who have gone before her to include her parents; her siblings, Jim, Bob, Harry, John, Lorraine, Dave and Jean; her beloved husband of 55 years, Jack; and her oldest son, John W. Wood II. And those who survive her and will keep her memory alive, to include sisters, Naomi Hamblin, Maureen Miller, Sharon Poyfair and brother Jerry Norman; her sons, Kevin (Marla) and Jim; daughter, Cindy (Dan) Miles; grandchildren, Philip Collins, Stacey (Matt) Mahoney, Nikki (Alyssa) Wood, Riley and Spencer Miles, Marie, Michael and Sarah Wood; seven great-grandchildren and a gargantuan number of nieces, nephews and friends, all who adored her.
The family is especially grateful for Edith’s caretakers, Anna and Alex, whose kind and loving attention to all her needs on a daily basis helped immensely. Our thanks also to staff at Ray Hickey House, where Edith spent the last day of her life here on earth with her children by her side.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on July 27, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 6500 Highland Drive, Vancouver. The Holy Rosary will precede the service at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Edith’s name to the SW WA Humane Society online at https://southwesthumane.org/donate/ or by mail to 1100 NE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98664 or to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, online at https://www.stjude.org/contact-us.html, or by mail to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. These two organizations were dear to her heart.
We were all so very lucky to have had Edith in our lives. She will be greatly missed, fondly remembered and forever loved by all who knew her.
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