Mr. James Benton Wood, age 93 of Stuart, Virginia passed this life he loved and enjoyed on July 22, 2022. He was born in Patrick County on June 13, 1929, to the late Joseph Clyde Wood and Maggie Dale Reynolds Wood. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter; one brother, Jesse Marlin Wood; and one sister, Margaret Wood Turner, and her husband, Glenn.
Benton graduated from Meadows of Dan High School excelling in baseball and basketball, which led to the Pittsburgh Pirates drafting him. He served two years with the U.S. Army 43rd Infantry in the Korean War with eighteen months over sea duty. His favorite pastimes were Major League Baseball, college basketball, trout fishing, car racing, and his family and friends. He was gifted with a personality that never met a stranger.
He was an active member of the following: sixty-five years with the Meadows of Dan V.F.W. 8467, forty years with the American Legion Post 105, twenty-five years with the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard, and fifteen years with the Patrick County Electrical Board. From 1957 to 1963 he refereed basketball and umpired baseball in the counties of Floyd, Carroll, Grayson, and Wythe. He was manager of the American Legion Summer League Baseball Team from 1995 until 2000. He retired from Appalachian Electric Power Company in 1991 with thirty-five years of service. Following retirement, he volunteered to drive the elderly to doctor appointments, treatment centers, and emergency rooms until 2011. He believed what you do for others makes you a better person.
Mr. Wood is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Betty Foley Wood of the home; one son, James Curtis Wood, and wife, Diane; his pride and joy, two grandchildren, Savanah Marie Wood, and Ryan Mathew Wood, all of Roanoke; two brothers-in-law, Marvin Foley, and Sammie Foley and wife, Helen, all of Stuart; on sister-in-law, Angie Foley of Stuart; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in Patrick Memorial Gardens with Pastor Warren Carswell officiating. Military Rites are provided by the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meadows of Dan Baptist Church, 2511 Jeb Stuart Hwy., Meadows of Dan, VA 24120. Moody Funeral Home in Stuart has been entrusted with the services and online condolences by be made by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
