George W. Wood, DDS, died July 8, 2002.

Born near Bigfork, Mont., in 1918, Mr. Wood spent his early years in Kalispell, Mont. He served five years in the Army and the Air Force in World War II. He married Grace Scearce in 1942, then attended Whitman College in Walla Walla and the University of Washington School of Dentistry, graduating in 1951.

He practiced dentistry in Walla Walla for 30 years before retirement, and lived on Whidbey Island for the remainder of his life. He and Grace recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Mr. Wood is survived by his wife and three children, Cynthia Shelton and her husband, John, in Langley; Douglas R. Wood, DDS and his wife LaVonne, in Oak Harbor; and George Stanley Wood and his wife, Marilyn, in Seattle. He also is survived by four grandchildren, Jill Winford, Allison Wood, Jami Belieu and Kyl Wood; a great-grandson, Jack Winford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Wood had a penchant for joining “good causes” and served in leadership roles in many organizations. He was president of Washington Dental Service, the Washington State Dental Association, Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce, Walla Walla Rotary Club, Walla Walla Community College, and Useless Bay Golf and Country Club on Whidbey Island.

His family loved him for his generous and loving spirit, a sense of humor that delighted all who knew him, and his ability to touch so many lives in a meaningful way. The family will miss him deeply.

A memorial service for George Wood will be held Sunday, July 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Useless Bay Country Club. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.