Share: 

Joseph Harold Wood, great sense of humor

February 22, 2023

Joseph Harold Wood, 78, of Millsboro, was swooped up by a band of angels Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. He made his daughters promise his obituary would say that. He was insistent that he didn’t want it to say that he passed away peacefully with family at his side (though that’s what happened); he wanted an obituary with a little flair.

Joe was born Aug. 15, 1944, in Glens Falls, N.Y., to the late Harold and Ann Wood. He attended the University of Rochester, where he met his future wife, Barbara. He allegedly proposed by saying, “Barbara, I’m going to be a teacher. Will you support me financially for the rest of our lives?” Given Joe’s well-known sense of humor, she thought he was kidding. He wasn’t.

After getting a master’s degree from Colgate, Joe went on to teach French (and occasionally a little Spanish) for 30 years in Prince George’s County, Md. His classes referred to him as Monsieur Dubois or Señor Madera (Mr. Wood, in French or Spanish).  Many students kept in touch after graduation, but none went on to become French teachers. Quel dommage! After retiring from Prince George’s County, Joe spent seven years teaching at Ss. Peter & Paul in Easton, Md. It was such a change that he thought he’d died and gone to heaven (pardon me…he thought he’d been swooped up by a band of angels).

Joe’s favorite part about being a teacher was having summers off. From June through August, you could find him napping in his backyard hammock, or reading the latest Clive Cussler in the pool. This was excellent practice for retirement. 

In addition to reading and napping, Joe loved (in no particular order) his kids, his grandkids (some called him Pepère, some called him Gramps, and one called him Parrot), his dogs, a good pair of flip-flops, Jimmy Buffett music, and all manner of tchotchkes.  

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Melinda Romano. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Wood of Lewes; his daughters, Sarah (Alan) Rynarzewski of Medina, Texas, and Kathleen (Jason) Zawislak of Newnan, Ga.; grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, Noah, Molly and Adam; and a niece, Julie (Jeff) Little of Smithfield R.I. He will be met at the rainbow bridge by Minnie, Otto, Tucker, Ellie and George.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 27, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to an animal shelter of choice.

Arrangements provided by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter