WOOD, Edward Leonard (Ed)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, February 19, 2014 Edward Leonard Wood, 75, of Prescott, Ariz., passed away unexpectedly at home on Feb. 7, 2014, due to cardiovascular disease. Ed was nicknamed "Woody" by many. He was born in Paterson, N.J. on June 28, 1938 to Edward and Rose Wood. On Sept. 2, 1962, Ed married Elizabeth "Bette" Anne Greene at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Lincoln Park, N.J. In 2012, they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Two of their three children were born in New Jersey, Katherine Rose and Edward James. The family moved from Wayne, N.J., to Prescott in 1978 for a more enjoyable climate. In 1952, Ed began work at age 14. As a young man, he worked many jobs including newspaper subscription fee collection, factory work, and loading/unloading at New Jersey waterfront shipping and storage centers. He graduated from heating and cooling trade school. Ed served in the U.S. Army, honorably discharged as sergeant E5. He had an HVAC business in Wayne, N.J. for many years and briefly was chief engineer at St. Vincent's Hospital in Montclair, N.J., before moving to Prescott, where he worked as a heating and cooling mechanic. Ed studied Native American Indian history, culture and art. In the 1980s, Ed owned an art shop in Prescott, where inventory included Hopi kachinas and pottery, Navajo rugs, and Zuni jewelry. Fixing mechanical and electrical problems was a career and hobby for Ed. He often volunteered to help fix things. Ed provided financial and emotional support to many people, and helped care for his wife Bette and daughter Kathy during their struggles with cancer. Since 1979, Ed and Bette were members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Prescott. Ed is preceded in death by his wife Bette, daughter Kathy and son Ed J. Survivors include son Daniel; sisters Elsie Cole, Rose Ann Bjork, Diana Claus; sisters-in-law Katherine F. Greene, E. Joan Greene; grandchildren Tahra Pearson, Sonia Ayala, Rockie Wood; great granddaughter Callie Pearson; additional family members and many friends. Funeral service will begin 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2014, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2000 Shepherds Lane, Prescott (near Highway 89 and Ruger Road and Prescott Airport), immediately followed by a Celebration of Life, photo slideshow and reception. Ed's ashes will be interred next to his wife Bette at the Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery, 1300 Iron Springs Road, Prescott. Ed and the family would greatly appreciate financial donations to St. Luke's, stlukesprescott.org or to Big Brothers Big Sisters, azbigs.org. Please visit www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Ed's online guestbook and share a memory or other comment.