William Boyd Wood

b. 12 May 1910, d. 30 September 1991

William Boyd Wood, 1910-1991
  • William Boyd Wood was born on 12 May 1910 in Richards, Grimes County, Texas.
  • Members of the Haynie and Wood families, and some neighbors, were photographed in front of "the Haynie hotel" in Richards, about 1911.
  • An early photographic portrait was made of little Billie Wood.
    William Boyd Wood, 1910-1991
  • His father and mother divorced when he was a small child; his mother remarried, then died in 1917. His father entered the Army, AEF France, left the US on 6 August 1918, and returned 5 April 1919.
  • Some Richards school students were photographed about 1918.
    Some Richards school students, 1918
  • Students and teachers were photographed in front of Richards School in 1919. A bond for enlarging the school building was voted on 1 June 1918, and the photo likely celebrated its completion.
  • Rush Brevard Wood and Claudia Gertrude Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Richards, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Boyd Wood, Walter Warren Wood, Solomon William Wood, Martha Clarana Reed, Henry Campbell Wood, Claude Irvin Wood and Myrtle Ernestine Bay.
  • He graduated on 16 May 1928 from Richards High School in Grimes County.
    William Boyd Wood, late 1920s
  • On 14 December 1928, young Billie wrote from North Texas Agricultural College to his father and grandmother in Richards:
                   Arlington, Texas
                   December 14, 1928
    Dear Papa & Grandma,
         I didn't hear from Richards this week. How is everybody there. I'll be back sometime before Sat or maybe Sunday of Next week. I don't know yet exactly when I'll leave here. I know it will be the latter part of next week tho.
         There is not any news here. The San Souci Club are having a Christmas Dance tonite. I have an invitation from Ann Sewall, a girl from West Texas. It is getting close to Christmas and all the Clubs are having some kind of entertainment. The La Docena gave a hayride party Wed nite. We can get permission to go to these because they are Christmas socials.
         I am enclosing a program for the Christmas banquet Tues nite. You can tell from it that we are sure to have a good time.
         I never made a C this term and B's are considered real good grades here. There has been about fifteen boys to "flunk" out this time. They have to quit.
                   Billie.
  • The following appeared on 11 January 1929 in the Navasota Examiner: The "Grim Reaper" has been busy in our town, have had four deaths within ten days. On Friday afternoon at 7:30 Mrs. Solomon Wood passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ira Haynie. Mrs. Wood was making her home with Mrs. Haynie due to the fact that her grandson Billie Wood who she had raised left for college in September and it left her alone. Billie came home for the holidays and fell a victim of the flu. His grandmother stayed with him until she too was taken sick and it was more than her strength could over come. She was 75 years old in July. Everything that loved ones and physician and nurse could do was done for her but to no avail. Her suffering was intense, but she bore it as she always bore her sufferings with patience. She was a devoted mother, one who could not do too much for her children and grand children. She was a member of the Christian church uniting when a girl a firm believer in its doctrines. She was beloved by neighbors and her memory will be reverened by all. To know her was to love her. She was tenderly laid to rest in the Fairview cemetery Saturday afternoon. She leaves to mourn her loss, eight children, a host of relatives, grand children and friends. But we realize our loss is Heaven's gain. "One who loved her."
         Just above this entry appears:
    Billie Wood who has been seriously ill was carried to Houston Monday. Reports stated yesterday that pneumonia had developed.
  • Young Billie Wood has not yet been found in the 1930 census.
  • He was educated at North Texas Agricultural College (of the Texas A&M system), at Arlington, graduating 31 May 1930 with an Associate in Science degree.
    William Boyd Wood, North Texas Agricultural College, 1930
    William Boyd Wood, North Texas Agricultural College, 1930
  • He also graduated on 29 August 1932 from the University of Texas, at Austin, at Texas with a BBA degree.
  • Walter Wood was photographed with his son Billie during the early 1930s at the sunken gardens in San Antonio.
    Walter Wood and son Billie
    Walter Wood and son Billie
  • Billie Wood and Billie Marie Lawhon shared their birthday, 12 May, and were photograped in Richards with a birthday cake.
    William Boyd Wood and Billie Marie Lawhon with their birthday cake, 12 May
  • On the same day that Billie Marie Lawhon and Billie Wood were photographed in Richards with their birthday cake, she was photographed with her mother and neighbors Mollie Whitfield Teague and her daughter Carrie Teague Garner.
  • Bill Wood sat for a photographic portrait early in his career with the US Department of Agriculture.
    William Boyd Wood, 1910-1991
    William Boyd Wood, 1910-1991
  • He married Doris Torbert, daughter of James Everett Torbert and Louise Beall Adams, on 28 April 1940 in Demopolis, Marengo County, Alabama, by license issued in Montgomery on the 27th, with Rev. F. E. Jordan officiating.
  • In 1945, an informal photograph was made of Doris Torbert Wood and her daughter Judy.
    Doris Torbert Wood and her daughter Judy
  • At the time of his death William Boyd Wood was living in Webster Groves, St. Louis County, Missouri, at 716 South Gore.
  • William Boyd Wood died on 30 September 1991 at age 81 in Valley Park, St. Louis County, Missouri, at Cedarcroft Nursing Home.
  • He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.
  • The following appeared on 1 October 1991 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: William B. Wood, a retired Farmers Home Administration director, died Monday (Sept. 30, 1991) at the Cedarcroft Nursing Center in Valley Park after a lengthy illness. He was 81 and had lived in Webster Groves.
         Mr. Wood moved to Webster Groves in 1953 and established the National Finance Office in St. Louis of the Farmers Home Administration. He served as the director of the FmHA office until his retirement in 1973 after 38 years of service with the Department of Agriculture.
         He was a native of Richards, Texas, attended the North Texas Agricultural College, and graduated in 1932 from the University of Texas School of Business Administration.
         Since 1932, Mr. Wood had served in a number of federal government positions in Texas, Alabama, North Carolina and Washington before coming to the St. Louis area. He was honored in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his service to the Department of Agriculture. He was a member of the Federal Executive Board; the Masonic Lodge; and was active at the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.
         A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, 45 West Lockwood Avenue, in Webster Groves. Burial will be private at Oak Hill Cemetery.
         Among the survivors are his wife, Doris Torbert Wood of Webster Groves; a daughter, Judy Moeller of Des Peres; a son, William B. Wood Jr. of Paw Paw, W.Va; a brother, Warren R. Wood of Anderson, Texas; and two grandchildren.
         Memorial contributions may be made to the W.B. Wood Memorial Fund for Youth Education at the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, or to Pathways to Independence, 631 East Polo Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63105.
  • A single grave marker identifies the graves of William Boyd Wood and Doris Torbert.
    William Boyd and Doris Torbert Wood, Oak Hill Cemetery, Kirkwood
  • Research Note: It is worthy of note that John Hall and Ann Bolling were the 7x great grandparents of Doris Torbert and the 6x great grandparents of William Boyd Wood.
  • Last Edited: 28 Jan 2017

Family: Doris Torbert b. 25 March 1919, d. 9 May 1999