Billy Earl Wood

Billy E. Wood peacefully passed away while in hospice on October 7, 2015 in Abilene, Texas at the age of 76.

Billy is survived by his wife, Hannelore Bober Wood, their three daughters and sons-in-law; Jacqueline and Shane Campbell of Enid, OK, Deborah and Eddie Yates of Long Beach, MS and Patricia and Troy Emery of Ranger, TX. His youngest sister, JoAnn Deliglio, still lives in their hometown of Colorado City, TX. Additionally, there are seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren who will sadly miss their Papa Billy! He is preceded in death by his parents Odis and Pauline Wood of Colorado City, his brother Ronnie Wood and sister, Helen Wood.

Billy was born on July 11, 1939 in Colorado City, TX to Odis Wood and Pauline Hulce Wood. He graduated from Colorado City High School in 1957. He joined the US Navy in July 1958 where he became a Steelworker in the Seabees. He was stationed in Beeville, TX when he met Hannelore Bober at a dance she attended with her sister and brother-in-law, whom she was visiting at the time. They married shortly thereafter in August 1960. While serving in the Navy, they lived in several locations including Texas, California, and the Bahamas before essentially settling on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1970 when he was stationed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. Military deployments often took Billy away from home, including a full year served in Viet Nam with CBMU 301. After retiring from the Navy in 1982, Billy went on to work with in the Civil Service from which he retired in 1998. His children remember him as a patient father who encouraged them to pursue their goals.

Billy was an avid rock hound and self-taught silver smith who learned many different jewelry techniques over the years. He was a kind and generous man who loved learning and who was passionate about sharing his knowledge with any who asked. He was an active and dedicated member of the Society for Creative Anachronism where he was bestowed the honor and title of being the first Court Baron of the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann.

A viewing and remembrance is scheduled 4 to 6 pm, Friday, October 9, at Edwards Funeral Home in Eastland, TX. The family will then be bringing Billy “home” to the Gulf Coast where his military funeral honors will take place at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Mississippi, 11 am, Tuesday, October 13, 2015.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Hendricks Hospital in Abilene and most of all the wonderful caregivers at Hendricks Hospice Care Center in Abilene for their sensitivity and dedication to our father.