Robert (Gene) Eugene Wood

Robert Eugene (Gene) Wood, 98, passed away September 29, 2020 from complications from a fall in March and a lengthy illness.  Gene was born March 24, 1922 in Tennille, Ga., one of nine siblings.  His family later moved to Macon where Gene graduated from Lanier High School for Boys.  He met the love of his life Katherine Butler Wood four years before they were married in January 1942.  They were married 76 years. 

Gene served in the United States Army in the South Pacific during World War II from November 1942 to December 1945.  He served from the Aleutian Islands to Okinawa where he was stationed at the end of the war.  During his three years of service, he said that Katherine wrote him a letter every day that he was gone.  At one point, he was on a ship for 91 days awaiting unit orders to land and take over an island, and no letters came.  When his unit finally landed, there were 91 letters from Katherine waiting for him!

After returning, he and Katherine bought a small house in south Macon and had two children, Bobby and Kay.  Gene was employed at A. S. Hatcher company for 50 years before retiring in 1990, and he had worked in every department in the company.  He was valued as an outstanding auto parts salesman, covering a territory that covered most of southeastern Georgia before there were interstate highways.  He finished his career as Sales Manager of the company and improved relations between his suppliers and his customers.

Gene and Katherine built a newer, bigger home for their family in 1956, and it was still their home.  He was very proud of his lawn, and just as proud of all of the flowers that Katherine planted and cared for through the years.  The family joined Riverside Methodist Church, and they were all active in church activities.  Gene helped establish the Boy Scout Troop, and he accompanied the boys on camping trips and summer camp.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Macon.

After retirement, he joined several friends at the Macon Mall to walk every day.  After exercise was over, they would all join together for coffee and “solve the world’s problems.”  He was amused that the newspaper questioned him and other “walkers” several times about their opinions on current events and then published their comments.

Gene loved sports, and he was an excellent baseball and basketball player.  During the season, he played almost every day on a baseball team called the Tatnall Tigers and bragged about having won several free-throw contests in which he participated.  He enjoyed taking his family and friends to the local Macon Peaches games, and he became an avid Braves fan! 

He enjoyed reading and watching game shows to keep his mind active.

Gene is pre-deceased by his wife, Katherine Elizabeth, his parents, brothers and sisters, son-in-law Bill Hunnicutt, and his daughter, Norma Kay Hunnicutt.  He is survived by his son Robert E. (Bobby) Wood, Jr. and his wife Frances, as well as a large number of nieces and nephews and their families.   A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday October 9, 2020 at Macon Memorial Park, 3969 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA, with viewing from 12:15-12:45pm.  The Rev. Antonie Walker, Senior Pastor of Riverside United Methodist Church, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church, 735 Pierce Avenue, Macon, GA 31204 or to The Methodist Children’s Home, Pierce Avenue, Macon, GA.

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