Elizabeth Wood

Elizabeth Barron Wood, 74 yrs. old of Thousand Oaks, CA went with our Lord, Jesus Christ, on May 13, 2023.

Liz was born in Utica, NY on Thanksgiving, November 24, 1948, to Edward and Evelyn Barron.   She graduated from Richfield Springs Central School in 1967.   Liz participated in Advanced English, Cheerleading, Art Club, Yearbook Staff, Girls Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Senior Ball, Girls Sports and Ski Team.

She met Roger (Jim) Wood, of New Berlin, NY in 1967, and they were married on May 4, 1968, at Christ Church, Cooperstown, NY while Jim was serving in the Air Force and stationed at Westover AFV, Springfield, MA.

Two beloved children, Jennifer, born May 3, 1969, and Stuart, born December 12, 1970, joined Liz and Jim in their Air Force travels that had stops in Louisiana, California, Delaware, and North Carolina in the United States.   Liz and her family also lived in Okinawa, Japan and the Philippines.

It was during the family travels with the Air Force and after her children started to attend school that Liz began working with school children first as a teacher’s aide, then as a teacher of foreign students.

Liz was rightfully proud of her accomplishments when she taught kindergarten children borne to military members with foreign national spouses at a private school in Okinawa, Japan.   Her responsibilities along with normal kindergarten activities, included education in American culture, customs, and moderate English to ease the child’s transition when the military family transferred to the United States.

Liz was so successful in her teachings that the Minister of Education and staff for Japan made a visit from the mainland to observe her curriculum and methods, both of which she developed in this new endeavor from the school.   They spoke very highly of Liz’s educational accomplishments with these young children who spoke no English whatsoever at the start of the school year, while she knew very little of the Japanese Language.
Liz settled in New Berlin, NY with her family upon Jim’s retirement from the Air Force in 1984.

While living in New Berlin, Liz worked as a claims clerical supervisor at New Yor Central Mutual Insurance Company, Edmeston, NY.   She continued in the same capacity with Home State Insurance Company, Red Bank, NJ and Home Mutual Insurance Company in Binghamton, NY.   She became a claims adjuster with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Tampa, Fl and Newton, MA.

Liz retired in 2006 and she, with her husband, “came home” to settle in Cooperstown, NY.   After the passing of her husband in 2017, she moved to California to be closer to her children.
Liz will be remembered mostly for her kind heart, friendly smile, and outgoing, pleasant personality.   She had a terrific sense of humor and enjoyed a good laugh.

Liz thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel, graciously making new friends easily drawn to her, while experiencing the differing cultures, both in the United States and the Far East and showing her children the different aspects of life around the world.

Her first love was her family.   Her husband was fortunate to have married such a wonderful person, and her children were blessed to have a mother who loved them so deeply.   She was always supportive of her husband and provided a calming influence for her children as the family moved from state to state and country to country.

She loved and admired Jennifer and Stuart as she watched them grow from young children into highly successful adults and was so proud of every accomplishment they achieved.

Liz felt blessed when she became “Gramma” to Joshua, son of Stuart and Amy.   She often said, “Now I know why I was put on this earth”.
She is survived by her daughter Jennifer (married to Tyson Yee); her son, Stuart (married to Amy Church); her grandson, Joshua; her brother, Brad Barron; her niece, Jessica Barron; and many cousins.