Ruth Marie Wood

Ruth Bridges Wood, 97, of Glasgow, Kentucky died Friday, March 11, 2022, at her home after a lengthy illness. Beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Ruth was born on October 29, 1924 to the late Henry P. and Myrtie Richmond Bridges in Beckton, Kentucky. She was baptized at Beech Grove Baptist Church and attended the one room Beckton School before going on to Glasgow High School, where she was valedictorian in 1942. After graduation, Ruth was working as secretary to James Depp, superintendent of Barren County Schools, when a former schoolmate, Kenneth Wood, class of 1941, paid a farewell visit to his teachers before shipping off to Europe to serve in World War II. Kenneth later confessed that his chance encounter with Ruth that day left him hopeful they would someday be together. The couple corresponded during his service in England, France, and Germany, and upon his return from Europe, were married on July 25, 1945. Ruth took on various bookkeeping and administrative positions to support the family while Kenneth pursued a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville and a master's degree in foreign languages at the University of Kentucky. Over the next 12 years, Ruth and Kenneth relocated several times while Kenneth taught foreign languages at Fort Knox, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and St. Mary's Junior College in Maryland. Ruth focused on home and children and was active in the local Methodist church wherever they lived. In 1957, Kenneth secured a position with the United States Information Service, which took the family for a year each to Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; and Arequipa, Peru; and back to Lima. While in South America, Ruth had to cook on a wood-burning stove, sew all the children's clothes using mail-order patterns, home-school the older children, and learn Spanish. In 1959, after a visit to Glasgow, the family took a train to New York City where they boarded the Grace Line SS Santa Maria and sailed back to Lima, Peru, passing through the Panama Canal. In 1961 the family returned to the United States by way of rail and bus through Central America. Ruth had fond memories of her travels through the countries stretching from Columbia through Mexico, and especially enjoyed Costa Rica and Guatemala. In 1962, the family settled in Takoma Park, Maryland, where Kenneth taught at Montgomery Junior College and later worked for the U.S. Department of Education. Ruth taught Sunday School at Woodside Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and served as a Scout den mother for her younger sons. When the boys were older, she worked as bookkeeper for a loan company and later as secretary for the Woodside Church. She trained as Rosebud, a clown character she created, and regaled those she visited in hospitals and nursing homes as part of the church ministry. Ruth and Kenneth continued their travels with trips to Puerto Rico, England, and Scotland. In 1979, Ruth fulfilled a lifelong goal of visiting Israel and Jerusalem. In 1994 Ruth capped off her love of foreign travel with a trip to Okinawa, Japan, with her sister Mary. When Kenneth and Ruth retired to Glasgow in 1980, she found her calling in community, church, and volunteer work. Ruth became a member of the First United Methodist Church of Glasgow, where she taught Sunday school for many years. Her enthusiasm for clowning continued as she joined fellow Glasgow clowns for parades and hospital visits. Ruth was actively involved in the Business and Professional Women organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served as secretary of the Barren County Historical Society. She was a devoted member of the Glasgow Garden Club and the Hospital Auxiliary at TJ Samson Hospital. Ruth and Kenneth proudly contributed many hours to the grief ministry at their church and to the development of the Gardenia Garden at TJ Samson Hospital. They also volunteered at the Barren County Cultural Center and organized numerous Glasgow High School reunions for their graduating classes. Ruth and Kenneth crossed the country many times visiting their children in Washington, DC and Washington State. Being with her grandchildren, all of whom remember her with love, was one of her greatest joys in life. Survivors include Ruth's sister, Mary Bridges Jones; sister-in-law, Sara Wood Wooton; brother-in-law, J. Robert Wood (Joy); four children, Beverly Wood Brannan (Dr. John Vlach) of Washington DC, Dr. Alan Wood (Dr. Martha McCravey) of Jackson, Wyoming, David Wood, of Glasgow, Kentucky, and Steven Wood (Sarah Bailey) of Fort Collins, Colorado; twelve grandchildren, Kate Vlach (Jon Ettinger), Molly Vlach (Kory Cosenza), Gillian Wood, Gabriel Wood (Cathy), Dr. Caitlin Parrot (Christian), Micah Wood (Dr. Anastasia Berg), Tony Gracia (Mira), John Wood (Jade), Laura Wood (Ben Barker), Alison (Matt Carr), Julia Wood, and Caroline Wood; five great grandchildren, Mac and Maddie Wood, Christian and Cora Parrott, and Oliver Carr; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and friends, with special mention of Ernestine Amos, 97, of Vine Grove, Kentucky, with whom Ruth shared a treasured friendship of over 70 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Kenneth Wells Wood; her older sister, Anna Bridges Holman; and three younger sisters who died in infancy, Emma Catherine, Julia Maedell, and Helen Richmond Bridges. Cremation was chosen. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, June 13th, at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow with a fellowship lunch after the service. A private burial will follow. A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Expressions of Sympathy may take the form of contributions to: First United Methodist Church, 500 South Green Street, Glasgow, KY 42141, or Hosparus Health, 101 Riverwood Ave., Suite B, Bowling Green, KY 42103.