Austin Wood

Austin Wood, 87, who made Lexington his home for the past 26 years, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, after a brief struggle with cancer. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites. Mr. Wood was born in Spartanburg, S.C., on Oct. 19, 1919, to Bessie Davis Wood and William L. Wood. He grew up in Rutherford County. While working as a superintendent with Columbus Contractors of Whiteville, he and family lived in many communities in both North Carolina and Virginia. He helped build some of the roads and bridges we travel on every day. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from December 1941 until December 1945, obtaining the rank of corporal as a light anti-aircraft gun crewman. He participated in the defense of New Georgia in the Solomon Islands and the occupation of Japan. He was proceeded in death by a grandson, Tyson Wood, of New Castle, Va., and a brother, Eatheron Wood, of Forest City. Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Clara Everhardt Wood; his son, Ken Wood and his wife, Reese, of New Castle, Va.; two daughters, Suzanne Stigall and her husband, Jerry, of DeWitt, Va., and Evelyn Hinant and her husband, John, of Chesterfield, Va.; his four grandchildren, John Wood, Bridgett Foncesca, Amy King and Chris Stigall; two great-grandchildren, Marshall and Abigail Wood; and a brother, Cordell, of Forest City. He was family and a good friend to his second family, the Everharts of Lexington, where there are many good memories. He was there for them in time of need just as they were there for him. His favorite pastime was NASCAR racing. He attended his first race in Darlington, S.C., in 1949. His favorite all-time driver was David Pearson, who ranks as one of the greatest of all NASCAR drivers whose duels with Richard Petty are legendary. We can see Daddy now in the stands rooting him on, not saying much during each lap but moving back and forth as Pearson goes around the track. He attended most races in Charlotte and Darlington and went to Daytona every February for the famous Daytona 500. When he stopped driving to the race tracks, you could find him in front of the TV. During the race no one could talked to him. If you tried, you were wasting your time as all was tuned out except the race. Fireball Roberts was another of his favorite drivers. He was in the stands the day Fireball died at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964. This was something Daddy said he'd never forget. Kasey Kahne was Daddy's favorite driver today and always said "he is a good boy." Daddy was a very proud and independent man. He loved his family, friends and neighbors. He never met a stranger, and his kind heart was to always do the right thing. He never spoke badly of anyone. He always said, "If you couldn't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all." This is something we all should think about and do. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 Wednesday at Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials may be made to Davidson County Cancer Services, 25 W. Sixth Ave., Lexington, NC 27292 or Hospice of Davidson County, P.O. Box 1941, Lexington, NC 27293.