Cynthia Bailey Wood

Cynthia Bailey Wood, 83, died Saturday, April 24 at Hospice and Community Care in Rock Hill, SC. She was born March 21, 1938, in Dallas, TX and was the daughter of the late Edward Jack Bailey and Dorothy Head. She spent her early childhood in Cotulla, TX, and then moved to San Augustine, TX, where she lived until she left home for college. She graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth with a BS in Nursing. She then moved to St. Louis, MO, where she attended Barnes Hospital School of Anesthesia, graduating as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. In 1966, she moved to Nashville, TN, to take a job in the Department of Anesthesia at Vanderbilt University Hospital. She married Lewis Fain Wood, Jr. in 1968 and became stepmother to his three girls. Her career at Vanderbilt spanned 17 years, interrupted by a stint at the UCLA Department of Anesthesia when she and Lew lived in Los Angeles for a year. After she retired, she enjoyed having extra time for gardening, traveling, entertaining, and spoiling her dogs and cats.

Cynthia will be missed by her sister Patricia Lou Hall, Blake Hall (Jennifer), and his son Lucas, and her daughters Karen Vander Els of SC, Laura Steltenpohl (Mark) of AL, and Lisa Warren (John) of NC, her brother-in-law Stephen F. Wood (Joyce) of Nashville, and Shirley Wood of SC. Cynthia was affectionately called “Tinka” by her grandchildren Melanie Wilds (Roger), Matthew Vander Els (Jenny), Chase Vander Els, Natalie Steltenpohl, Greg Steltenpohl, Adam Warren, Mary Jane Warren, Alex Warren, Candice Warren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Fain Wood, Jr., brother-in-law Robert Hall, and son-in-law Wallace Vander Els.

A memorial service will be at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Saturday, May 8 from 1-2 pm. The family invites visitors before the service, from 12-1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nashville Humane Society or Hospice and Community Care, Rock Hill, SC. Marshall-Donnelly-Combs is serving the family and condolences can be made online