Charles R. Wood

Born: July 23, 1926

Passed Away: October 30, 2019

Charles R. Wood, 93, born in Bluff Dale, Texas, died October 30, 2019. He graduated from Stephenville High School in 1943 before joining the US Navy and serving two years. After his military service, he attended Tarleton Jr. College where he played basketball for the Plowboys, then continued to Texas Tech University, graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1950. Charles was a proud Red Raider for life “Guns Up!”

After graduation, Charles turned his passion for civil engineering from an academic exercise into a 32-year career as an industrial safety engineer with Employers Insurance of Texas, retiring in 1988, also serving in professional safety engineering societies’ leadership positions and receiving multiple professional awards. In 1952, he married Carol Saxton and they were devoted lifetime partners. Charles and Carol raised three children in Ft. Worth and at their own 5C Ranch in Stephenville. Throughout their marriage, they invested their talents in church service and ministry and Charles held numerous church leadership positions, including chairman of deacons. They enjoyed a long productive retirement at their ranch, including time with their five granddaughters.

Funeral services for Charles will be held at 9 am Friday, Nov. 8 at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, Arlington, followed by a burial service at 11 am at DFW National Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, Nov. 7, 6-8 pm. Memorial gifts are welcomed, either donations to Texas Baptist Men or a gift to Charles’ Texas Tech engineering student endowment, check to Texas Tech Foundation (memo line “honoring Charles R. Wood ’50), Office of Advancement, PO Box 42005, Lubbock, TX 79409.

Charles is survived by one sister, Barbara Ann Scott of Bridgeport, Texas; three married children, Caron and Bob Montgomery of Arlington, Carla and Steve Howard of Dallas and Cal and Tammy Wood of Aledo; five grandchildren, Leigh and Leo McKinney of Houston, Callie and Ryan Messer of Ft. Worth, Kelsey and Dylan Howard of Dallas and Taylor Wood of Charlotte, N.C.; great granddaughter, Emeline McKinney of Houston.