William Ronald Wood
passed away at the age of 83 from a long battle with Parkinson Disease.
He was born in
Streeter, IL, son of Alex and Mildred Marshall Wood. Beloved husband of
Barbara Dudgeon for 59 years. Loving father of Jeff (Linda) Wood of Hudson
Ohio, William (Avril) Wood of Yorba Linda CA, David Wood of Chesterton, IN
and Brian (Lisa) Wood of Indianapolis IN. Grandfather to Chris (Carin) Wood,
Sarah (Dan) Strittmater, David Wood, Heather Wood, Megan Wood and Alexandra
Wood. Four great-grandchildren Olivia, Ben, Farah and Laine.
Bill moved to
England before the age of one where Bill’s father played professional
soccer. His father played in the First World Cup. At the age of eight the
family moved back to the states and relocated in Gary, IN, where Bill
attended grade school and in 1948 graduated from Emerson High School. He
later graduated from Valparaiso University in 1954 where he played varsity
baseball. In 1955 married his wife of 59 years, Barbara Dudgeon Wood, who
survives in Chesterton. Bill began and ended his 38 year career at US Steel
where he retired as Superintendent of the 46th rolling mill. While at US
Steel, Bill was very active in the US Steel Carolers.
In 1960 Bill moved
his family to Portage, IN where he became very active in the community where
he was the first Portage Park board President and started the youth soccer
league. He received the 1975 JC Boss of the Year Award and in 1995
Barbershop of the year. In 1960 he was instrumental in forming the committee
and establishing the Nativity Catholic Church where he sang in the Choir for
over 20 years. Bill was an avid sports fan, coached many of his children’s
youth sports teams, was a well-respected racquetball player and for many
years refereed both college and high school basketball and football.
Funeral services
will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick
Catholic Church, 642 N. Calumet Rd., Chesterton, with Father James Meade
officiating. There will be a visitation prior at the church in the Narthex
from 9 a.m. until time of service. Cremation will follow. The family will
receive friends on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 4 until 8 p.m. at
White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton, IN, with a Rosary at
7:30 p.m.