Richard Paul Wood

Richard Paul Wood, 78, formerly of Crown Point, Indiana, Houston, Texas and Sarasota, Florida, passed away on Sunday, July 29th, 2018 at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. Born on December 30, 1939, in Wall Lake, Iowa, he was the son of the late Walter Wood and Annah Morgan Wood.

As a young man, Dick attended Ball State Teachers’ College in Muncie, Indiana and was a proud member of the Track and Field team there, achieving a long-standing record in the discus throw. He graduated from Ball State with a Master’s degree in Industrial Arts Education, and he taught wood shop and coached track and field and golf for many years at Crown Point High School and Lake Central High School in Indiana. The irony of his last name, Wood, and his career as a wood shop teacher, was not lost on him. He loved to tell stories about his many students, and was always eager to show off that he still had all ten of his fingers!

Dick’s later teaching career brought him the opportunity to serve as an administrator of the Ellen B. Lane Center. Part of the Aldine Independent School District in Houston, TX, the Lane School is dedicated to special needs students, and the mission there is to maximize student potential, regardless of physical, intellectual or emotional limitations. Dick was able to connect with these students in a way few others could.

Dick loved to play the banjo and was part of a folk singing group back in the 1970s called the Out Loud Singers. Music continued to bring him joy for the rest of his life. Dick was an avid story-teller, and he loved to reminisce about the many good times Life brought him. Always the quintessential gentleman, his wit and laughter will be greatly missed.

Richard is lovingly remembered by his two children and their families, son: R. Paul Wood, Jr. and wife Julie, of Spring, TX; daughter: Britt Wood Macnabb and husband Phil of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren: Sydney, Davis, and Bryn Macnabb and Jeremy Wood.

A private family Memorial Gathering will be held on Wednesday, August 8th at Mitchell Funeral Home (7209 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.