Geraldine A. Wood

Visitation will be Saturday, December 3rd 2011 from 2:00 – 2:45 at St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church. Immediately following the visitation will be the funeral service at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville.

Gerry was born at home in Lexington, Texas on Dec. 27, 1922, to Otto Carl and Caroline (Lena) Bohl Ahrendt as the third of seven children. Gerry married Branson L. (Woody) Wood, Jr. on March 5, 1948 in Austin. He preceded her in death on April 3, 2007.

Survivors include five children; Connie Schutte (Ed) of Suwanee, GA, Branson L. Wood III (Katie) of Hannibal, MO, Jackie Wood of Austin, Lisa Wood of Lakewood, CO, Lena Nasta (Sanjay) of Austin; seven grandchildren, Michelle Schutte of Brentwood, TN, Chris Wahl (Zac) of Braselton, GA, Allison Wood Leaheey (Paul Albert) of New York City, NY, Bennett Wood (Karen) of Austin, Angela Locke (John Hess) of Frederick, MD, Greg Eastwood (Ani) of Missoula, MT and Krish Nasta of Austin; three sisters, Frances Hawkins of the state of Florida, Marilyn Ridley of Wimberly, Caroline Webb (Bill) of Victoria and two brothers, Richard Ahrendt of Oklahoma City, OK and Wilfred Ahrendt (Marveen) of Columbus, OH, two sisters-in-law Sherry Wood of Virginia Beach, VA and Virginia King of Charlotte, NC and one brother-in-law Jim Wood (Linda) of Vashon, Washington. She is also survived by numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother Leonard (Manny) Ahrendt who died while serving in the armed forces during WW II.

Gerry graduated from high school, Lexington, TX and completed a two year course of studies at Blinn College in Brenham, TX before moving to Camp Shelby Hattiesburg, MS in 1943 with her parents and younger siblings. There her father taught mechanics to soldiers. Gerry worked as a payroll clerk on base. After the war the Ahrendt family moved to Volente and Gerry attended UT Austin. In 1947 while working at Arthur Murray Dance Studio as an instructor she met Woody, a handsome Air Force pilot. A year later they were married.

As an Air Force family they moved over 20 times in the first 20 years of their marriage. Since they were never stationed near family Gerry shouldered huge responsibilities for their five children while Woody was away on military missions. She handled this with wisdom, courage and prayer. When all the children were in school Gerry went back to work. She worked at “House of Janice” fabrics in Alexandria, VA from 1966 - 1970 while Woody was stationed at the Pentagon. After Woody’s retirement they moved to Austin to be near family. Gerry worked at Frost Brothers Department Store and later worked as a real estate agent along side her husband at McLester and Grisham Realtors. Gerry was past president of the Anderson Mill Garden Club and member emeritus. She was an active member of St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church so long as her health allowed.

Memorials may be made to Anderson Mill Garden Club, in care of Jean Shull, treasure 7602 Reed Drive, Volente, TX 78641, (512) 258-2613, or St. Lukes’s on the Lake Episcopal Church, 5600 Ranch Road 620 N., Austin, Texas 78732-1823, (512) 266-2455. Or the charity of the donor’s choice.