Stephen Leroy Wood, age 81, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 4:02 P.M. on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at his home in Centralia, Illinois, with his loving family by his side. Mr. Wood was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, proudly serving his country as an underwater demolition diver. He was stationed on Midway Island at the time of his discharge. During his four years of service, he completed his 200-hour course in Structural Fire Fighting, while stationed at the U.S. Naval Station in San Francisco, California. He was a former member of Masonic Lodge # 31 in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Mr. Wood was a member of a diving club in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He cherished the time he spent with his family, traveling with them to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Hawaii, Bahamas, and areas throughout the United States. He loved going to the beach with his family. Mr. Wood retired in 2005 from Defender Service in North Carolina, as a Contract Manager, after 20 years of service. He previously was a salesman at Mount Vernon Truck Body for 6 years. He was a supervisor in the curing department at General Tire in Mount Vernon, Illinois, for 15 years, and during this time, he traveled to many countries such as Romania. He lived in Centralia, Illinois, for 3 years, and previously lived in Texico, Illinois, for 30 years, Mount Vernon, Illinois, for 15 years and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Stephen Leroy Wood will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois, with Major Thomas Riggs officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the Centralia American Legion Post # 446 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post # 2055 at the cemetery. Interment will follow in Zion Grove Cemetery in Kell, Illinois. Friends are invited to visit with Mr. Wood’s family from 11: 00 A.M. until the time of his services at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois. Please view the online obituary, send condolences or share memories with Mr. Wood’s family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
In addition to his loving wife of 62 years, Mr. Wood is survived by his devoted and loving daughters, Lisa Wood of Centralia, Illinois, and Veronica Jones and husband Warren of Mount Vernon, Illinois; four grandchildren, Tonica Wood, Alex Rowe and fiancée Amber, Meghan Marthaler and husband Matt and Naomi Webster and husband Joe; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Michael Wood of Ohio; sisters, Peggy Cologne of Wolcottville, Indiana, Linda Mock and husband Dave of Wolcottville, Indiana, and Michelle Roemke of Wolcottville, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.
He was born on January 1, 1940, in Hartford City, Indiana, the son of Calvert and May Rozella (Slusher) Wood. He married Pearl June Jones on February 13, 1959, in Fort Wayne, Indiana and she survives him in Centralia, Illinois. Mr. Wood was preceded in death by his parents: grandparents; and brother-in-law, Jim Cologne.
