Obituary: Wood, Joseph John

Sun., Sept. 20, 2015

WOOD, Joseph John Joseph passed away into God’s hands peacefully on September 6, 2015, at the age of 67.

He was a resident of Spokane, WA and the second son of Ambrose W. and Maryrita Wood (Blair).

Joseph was born in Chateauguay, NY and when he was 17 his family moved to California.

At 18 he enlisted in the US Army and did a tour of duty in Vietnam where he sustained injuries and received a purple heart.

Joe held two degrees, a B.S.

in biology from the University of Montana and a B.S.

in psychology from the University of North Dakota.

His jobs included forest technician from 1983 - 1987, working with old growth trees, a film director for Comcast Media, social worker specializing in working with mentally disturbed children and a veterans advocate writing grants.

For enjoyment Joe liked fishing and was an avid photographer and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Joe’s real passion was writing, and he used those skills to publish articles (many were published in the Spokesman Review) about the pain and suffering that veterans go through and advocating on the behalf of veterans.

Joe developed a deep spiritual faith in his latter days.

His love of God was strengthened through discussions during Bible Study.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Ambrose W. and Maryrita Wood (Blair) and his brother Ambrose J.

Wood.

He is survived by three daughters: Amy Wood, Beth Ihlan and Christine Griffin; two brothers: John and Tim Wood; sister Sharon (Frank) Wilson of Oregon; one sister-in-law Arleen Wood Blazon (Gil); five grandchildren: Rachel, Brynlee, Mason, Jacob and Gabriel and great-grandson Breken.

A Rosary will be held at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 6:00PM.

A Memorial Service will be held at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church on Friday, September 25, 2015 at 11:00AM, with a reception to follow.

Inurnment and Honor Guard ceremony will be at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, WA 99022 on Monday, September 28, 2015 at 11:00AM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Community Living Center located at the Spokane Veterans Hospital.

The Wood family would like to thank Father Mee and the Veterans Community Living Center for the loving physical and spiritual care.

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