WOOD, Gordon Amasa

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 03/01/2013 Gordon Amasa Wood left this world January 30, 2013, just two days before his 94th birthday. Gordon was born in Verdure, (near Monticello) Utah, the son of Leroy and Isabelle Barton Wood. Gordon spent most of his life in Monticello, graduating from Monticello High School, then attending Ross Business College in Grand Junction, Colo. He was drafted into military service in Aug. 1942 and assigned to the 434th Army Air Force Base Unit on a C-47 cargo plane as crew chief. He later advanced to Master Sergeant, then to Flight Chief, in 1944. He served in the Normandy Invasion towing gliders and hauling paratroopers. He served in other WWII operations, hauling gasoline to General Paton’s Third Army in five gallon cans and transporting wounded soldiers to Ireland for transport to the United States. He received European, African, and Middle Eastern Theater ribbons with five bronze stars and a distinguished unit badge. He left Europe June 23, 1945. Gordon, his brother, and his sisters were all in military service at the same time. After the war was over, he returned home and met Fern Sitton, a nurse, who became his wife May 31, 1946. They had one son: James Gordon Wood. Gordon was a 60 year Charter Member of the Monticello Lions Club, a member of the Monticello Hospital Board, and helped start the Monticello Golf Course with sand greens. He was a partner in the Bailey Wood Meat Locker prior to starting the Wood Department Store with his wife Fern. In 1955, members of the Republican Party approached him to apply for Post Master of Monticello Utah. He was nominated by the United States Congress and appointed Post Master by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was in one of the last groups to be confirmed by the U.S. Congress. Gordon retired from the Post Office Aug. 1, 1979, and he and Fern moved to Arizona to be closer to their son and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl Wood and sisters Vera Hazelton and Melba Holomon. Gordon is survived by Fern, his wife of 66 years and eight months; son James Gordon (Dianne); three grandsons: James G, Wood II (Crystal), Robert R. Wood (Sylvia), and Michael W. Wood (Angela); seven great- grandsons: Garrett, Theron, Joshua, Silas, Jude, Cade and Titus; three great-granddaughters: Talyiah, Samantha, and Mireya, as well as several nephews and nieces. His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Springerville Community Presbyterian Church. Military Honors will be bestowed by the American Legion Post 30 following the service. Burial will be at a later date in the Veterans Cemetery in Phoenix. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements. Send an online condolence at www.burnhammortuary.com.