No picture provided.
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Spouse: |
Winfield Davis Wood
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Children: |
Judith Kay Wood Johnson James Ray Wood Stephen D. Wood
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Grandchildren: |
Kimberley Wood Phillips James Kurtis Wood Christopher Wood Andrea Wood Fishel Great Grandchildren Chelsea Christine Phillips Nicholas James Phillips Parker Townsend Phillips James Ryan Wood Elise Ashton Wood Walker Winfield Wood Peyton Michelle Wood Cameron Fishel Madison Fishel
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Parents: |
Araminta May Steele and Ora Townsend
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Siblings: |
Pauline Towsend Gebhardt Franke Ora Towsend Jr.
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Grandparents: |
None listed
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Family
Legacies™ |
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Cemetery Location Map to Gravesite |
Birth Date: 5/26/1908
Death Date: 10/11/1981
Floral Park Cemetery
Section N, Lot 56, Grave 2
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Bessie M. Townsend Wood, affectionately known by her many friends as 'Bess', was an elegant lady. At her funeral service, the Reverend Andrew Crawley told the story of a child asking his mother about a stained glass window in the church. The mother answered the child's question. She said, 'A stained glass window allows for God's beauty to be reflected through it to the world.' Rev. Crawley said, 'Bess was a stained glass window through which God's beauty was reflected to the world.'From humble beginnings in rural Indiana, Bess became an accomplished pianist and successful professional woman. She attended Indiana Business College and held many responsible positions including that of a Court Reporter. She retired as Secretary to the Publicity Director of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Whereas she reflected the stature and poise of the successful professional person whom she was, her first love was her family, friends and the Church. She met and married Winfield D. Wood when she was a pianist at the Fairfield Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. Their lifelong love for each other began when they both attended Christian Endeavor meetings at the Church. Her mother later claimed that the first time she saw Bess and Win together, she knew that the match was a special one. Bess and Win, both active in the Speedway Christian Church for over fifty years, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the Church shortly before she died. She participated, with great energy and creativity, in her three children's activities, including being a Cub Scout Leader, and playing the piano for the kindergarten class of the Sunday School, Speedway Christian Church, for over two decades. She reflected a fun, positive approach to wide variety of activities and was fully committed to them, while remaining her own person.Her grace and elegance are what we remember about Bess. By example, she showed how to live one's life not participating in the pettiness of the world. And, she was rewarded with and adored by a circle of devoted friends and family. |
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Bess, as a child.
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Bess, as a teenager, with her parents and sister.
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Bess and Win, during courtship.
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Bess, as court reporter.
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Bess and Win, holding newborn twins.
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Bess, with sister, Pauline, mother and brother, Ora Jr..
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Bess and Win, with son, Jim, his wife, Jan and two grandchildren, Kim and Kurt.
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Bess and Win, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway offices, where Bess worked as Secretary to the Publicity Director.
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Bess and her mother at son, Steve's wedding.
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