Betty Wood

Betty Jean Wood passed away Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 93.

She was born March 8, 1930, in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Clyde and Edna King.

Betty was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where she worked as a switchboard operator while attending college. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas State College in 1950. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Beta Beta Beta, an honorary biological fraternity, the Student Council, and the Home Economics Club.

She was married to Dr. Thomas 0. Wood, Jr. for 63 years before his passing in 2018. They spent the first years of their marriage living in Cabimas Zulia, Venezuela, where they had two sons, John 0. Wood, and Steven A. (Tony) Wood. After returning to the United States in 1960, Thomas attended medical school in Little Rock, Arkansas and Betty became a teacher. She taught school at Truman, Judsonia, England, Arkansas for many years.

They moved to Poplar Bluff in 1972 with their two sons, and Thomas began working at Kneibert Clinic as a family practitioner and later at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Later in life, Betty kept busy working as a bookkeeper at Key Drug. Betty and Thomas were faithful members of Holy Cross Episcopal Church and made many life­ long friends in the Poplar Bluff community.

Betty is survived by her sons, Dr. John 0. (Sandy) Wood and Steven A. Wood, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one grandson, Joel Wood, of Destin, Florida; and one sister-in-law, Jennean McCutchen, of Parkin, Arkansas.

An Internment of Ashes ceremony will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to serve the family of Betty Jean Wood.

Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com