Donald Ray Wood

May 27, 1938 - October 18, 2020

Donald Ray Wood of Rusk, age 82, was born May 27, 1938 in Cherokee County to Olan and Inez Halbert-Wood. Don passed away October 18, 2020 in Tyler Tx. Visitation will be at Wallace-Thompson funeral home in Rusk Tx, Thursday, October 22, 6-8 pm. Funeral will be Friday, October 23rd at Oakland MBC pavilion, at 10 a.m. officiated by Bro. Rex Hoot and Ryan Simpson. Graveside services to follow at Lowe’s Chapel Cemetery. After graduation from Dialville High School, Don joined the US Navy from 1957-1959. He married the love of his life Syble Monkress Wood on April 5, 1958. He worked several jobs, until his main career began at TxDOT where he worked for 42 years. After retiring in 2000, he then drove a contract truck until the age of 81. He was a jack of all trades. He was a mechanic, he loved old cars, motorcycles, cows, music, and played in a band through this year where he especially loved playing shows in Sacul. Most of all Don loved family and helping other people. He led the music at Oakland MBC for over 23 years. He loved serving the Lord and it is a comfort for his family to know where he is. Pawpaw treasured spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids and loved to make his great-granddaughters chocolate cake. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Syble Monkress-Wood, daughter Kim Killion and husband Steve, daughter by heart Cathy Gilmore and husband Hulen, grandchildren Kody Killion and wife Kristen, Klint Killion, Casey Simpson and husband Ryan, Kyle Gilmore and wife Bianca, great-grandchildren Kinsley, Kallie Jo, and soon-to-be Kelsey Killion, Kaitlynn and Eva Simpson, Noah and Axel Gilmore, brothers Thomas Wood and wife Mary Lou, Jerry Wood and wife Patsy, Aunt Tommie Hill, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pallbearers will be grandsons Kody Killion, Klint Killion, Kyle Gilmore, nephews David Wood, Jeff Wood and Chris Wood, and honorary pallbearers Jason Wood, Raymond Jimmerson, Clayton Poole, and Billy Don Garner. In lieu of flowers Don requested donations be made to The American Macular Degeneration Foundation or Saint Jude Children's Hospital. The family would like to thank Dr. Justin McInnis and staff at Family 1st Clinic and Dr. David Jones and staff at UT Health Hospital.