Gordon L. "Woody" Wood

Gordon L. Wood, 92, Retired Electrical Engineer, died Monday, January 2, 2023.Rosary will be at 10:00 am, Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Church of the Magdalen Catholic Church.Gordon “Woody” Wood was born on April 5, 1930 in Detroit, MI, and grew up on Hart Avenue. He was the oldest of three children born to Charles and Mary Lou (Tilford) Wood. On October 29, 1948, he joined the Navy serving on the USS Maurice River. He eventually received enough electronics education to become a radioman in March of 1950. He was honorably discharged October 14, 1952 and returned home.He continued his electronics education enrolling in the Radio Electronic Television Schools. He graduated March 18, 1955 with a Certificate of Practical Television and Communications Engineering. At that time, Boeing was actively recruiting for positions in Wichita, KS. Gordon was hired which brought him to Wichita.One day, while working in Wichita, he decided to take in a Memorial Day celebration dance at Joyland Amusement Park. There he saw his future bride, Rita Hoag. A very Catholic farm girl from the town of Yates Center, Kansas about 100 miles east of Wichita. Rita had moved to Wichita with a cousin to pursue a nursing degree and a job in one of the local hospitals. Since Gordon leaned to the Baptist faith, Rita initially rejected him. Gordon continued to pursue her and they eventually fell in love. Around the start of 1956, Boeing sent Gordon to California to work on a project but they continued to write weekly. Also, by this time, Rita’s faith had influenced him and he decided to become Catholic. About a year later, they were engaged. Gordon decided to come back to Kansas, so quit Boeing and started working as an electrical engineer for Cessna on June 6, 1957. They were married June 26, 1957 which lasted 61 years when Rita passed Nov 19, 2018.On April 17, 1958, their first child was born, Gary. In order to advance at Cessna, Gordon needed to get a degree so he enrolled in night school at Municipal University of Wichita in August 1958. About this time, there was a push in the city to add the university into the state system but was strongly opposed by University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Despite working at Cessna, going to night school, adding two more children, Randy, July 3, 1959 and Danette, November 16, 1963, Gordon attended every meeting fighting for the inclusion until it became Wichita State University July 1, 1964. Gordon graduated in June 5, 1966 with a BS in Physics and Math Magna Cum Laude. A year later their last child, Alan, arrived May 6, 1967. With college completed, he was now free to pursue other opportunities.Through joining Church of the Magdalen in 1962, he was now able to get deeply involved in the parish through lecturing, ushering and accepting administrative positions in social organizations. He was also a scoutmaster for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and helped with the Girl Scouts when Rita became Troop Leader.After 37 years, Gordon retired from Cessna in 1994. With this free time, Gordon and Rita now doted on their four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. They also took numerous guided travel tours in the United States and a few in other countries. Gordon was a kind and gentle soul, had a wonderful smile, always willing to help, couldn’t say no to anyone and more than happy to impart his knowledge. Gordon will be greatly missed.Preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mary Lou (Tilford) Wood; wife, Rita (Hoag) Wood; son, Randall (Janie) Wood; daughter, Danette Marie Baker; sister, Dolores (Tommy) Thomas.Survived by his sons, Gary Wood, Alan (Sharon) Wood; son-in-law, Ed Baker; brother, Ronnie (Linda) Wood; 4 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren.Memorials have been established with: Church of the Magdalen Catholic Church, 12626 E. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67206; The Lord's Diner 520 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214. Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.