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Lt. Colonel Richard R. Wood, 81, of Kerrville, entered into God’s Kingdom on Monday, February 6, 2023, after a long and well lived life.
Richard was born on March 30, 1941 in Paint Rock, TX to his parents, Dola and Mary Wood, and graduated from Paint Rock High School in 1959. In 1964, he met Barbara Ann Black of Uvalde, and they were wed on August 23, 1966. Together they went on to have a loving and fruitful marriage with two children: Richard Scott and Kimberly Rae (Cannon).
Richard was drafted in 1965 to join the Army. He attended Officer Candidate Training school, beginning his successful career as an Army officer. He would go on to serve in the Vietnam war and complete several overseas deployments, including posts in Korea and Germany. He was a proud veteran who spent 17 years in active duty and another 13 years in the reserves.
While serving in the reserves, Richard decided to pursue a career in Education. An avid lover of math, basketball, and track, he went on to work first as a teacher and coach before moving up to campus principal, and eventually district superintendent positions. During his 18 years as an educator, he joyfully served in several school districts, including: Eola, Eden, Paint Rock and Blackwell.
Richard was a force of nature, determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world. Anyone who knew Richard knew that he was the most loving husband, father, and grandfather a family could ask for. After losing his beloved wife, Barbara, in 1997 to cancer, he met Laura Beth Mueller of Nacogdoches. They wed in 1999 and lived happily together for five years, before her untimely death in 2003. Richard eventually met Nona Hesson, of Kerrville, in 2004, wed once more in 2005, and spent the twilight years of his life happily married to her.
Richard was also a passionate rancher and could often be found tending to his family’s ranch in Concho County when he wasn’t at home. The ranch was another source of joy and pride for him.. He spent countless hours with his brother Robert building fences, tinkering with tractors, and raising sheep, goats, and cattle. The Novian place was where Richard fed his soul.
Richard is survived by many loving family members including: his loving wife, Nona Wood, of Kerrville; his children, Scott and Jennifer Wood of Portland, Kimberly and Gregory Cannon of Pearland, Tara Hesson of Dallas, Tracy Hesson of San Antonio, Lucretia Fraga of San Antonio, and Burke and Selena Hesson of Sachse; his grandchildren, Kayla Wood, Nicole Cannon and fiancé Devin Day, Jaime and Heather Gracia, Douglas Cannon, Jeweli Gracia, Andrew Cannon, Taylor Jolley, Hartley Hesson and Meredith Hesson; his siblings, Jewell (Wood) Thompson of Kerrville, Robert Wood of Ballinger, and John Mike Wood of Lynnwood; his sister-in-law and close friend, Diana (Black) Meyer of Marble Falls; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He triumphantly enters Heaven and joins his family members that preceded him in death, including Barbara Wood, Beth Wood, Janette Hubanek, Gwen Swann, and Ed Wood.
Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville, Texas. His graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Eden Cemetery in Eden, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) of Kerr County.
Richard was born on March 30, 1941 in Paint Rock, TX to his parents, Dola and Mary Wood, and graduated from Paint Rock High School in 1959. In 1964, he met Barbara Ann Black of Uvalde, and they were wed on August 23, 1966. Together they went on to have a loving and fruitful marriage with two children: Richard Scott and Kimberly Rae (Cannon).
Richard was drafted in 1965 to join the Army. He attended Officer Candidate Training school, beginning his successful career as an Army officer. He would go on to serve in the Vietnam war and complete several overseas deployments, including posts in Korea and Germany. He was a proud veteran who spent 17 years in active duty and another 13 years in the reserves.
While serving in the reserves, Richard decided to pursue a career in Education. An avid lover of math, basketball, and track, he went on to work first as a teacher and coach before moving up to campus principal, and eventually district superintendent positions. During his 18 years as an educator, he joyfully served in several school districts, including: Eola, Eden, Paint Rock and Blackwell.
Richard was a force of nature, determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world. Anyone who knew Richard knew that he was the most loving husband, father, and grandfather a family could ask for. After losing his beloved wife, Barbara, in 1997 to cancer, he met Laura Beth Mueller of Nacogdoches. They wed in 1999 and lived happily together for five years, before her untimely death in 2003. Richard eventually met Nona Hesson, of Kerrville, in 2004, wed once more in 2005, and spent the twilight years of his life happily married to her.
Richard was also a passionate rancher and could often be found tending to his family’s ranch in Concho County when he wasn’t at home. The ranch was another source of joy and pride for him.. He spent countless hours with his brother Robert building fences, tinkering with tractors, and raising sheep, goats, and cattle. The Novian place was where Richard fed his soul.
Richard is survived by many loving family members including: his loving wife, Nona Wood, of Kerrville; his children, Scott and Jennifer Wood of Portland, Kimberly and Gregory Cannon of Pearland, Tara Hesson of Dallas, Tracy Hesson of San Antonio, Lucretia Fraga of San Antonio, and Burke and Selena Hesson of Sachse; his grandchildren, Kayla Wood, Nicole Cannon and fiancé Devin Day, Jaime and Heather Gracia, Douglas Cannon, Jeweli Gracia, Andrew Cannon, Taylor Jolley, Hartley Hesson and Meredith Hesson; his siblings, Jewell (Wood) Thompson of Kerrville, Robert Wood of Ballinger, and John Mike Wood of Lynnwood; his sister-in-law and close friend, Diana (Black) Meyer of Marble Falls; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He triumphantly enters Heaven and joins his family members that preceded him in death, including Barbara Wood, Beth Wood, Janette Hubanek, Gwen Swann, and Ed Wood.
Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville, Texas. His graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Eden Cemetery in Eden, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) of Kerr County.