ob262

submitted by
Nola Loker

OBITUARY

Wayne Co Press
Feb 21, 1994

Blythe A Wood, 80, Dies
Wayne City Businessman

Blythe A. Wood, 80, well-known Wayne City resident, died at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon at 2:35 p.m.Thursday, Feb 17, 1994. He had been in declining health.

Mr. Wood was owner and operator of the Esmon & Wood Grocery Store in Wayne City for several years.

He was founder of the Little League program in Wayne City and of the Wayne City Bean Days celebration. Mr. Wood was a past member of the Wayne City town board.

Rites Conducted

Funeral rites were conducted from the Hughey Funeral Home in Mt Vernon Saturday afternoon, with Rev. Mike Steed officiating. Interment was in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City. There was a visitation Friday evening at the Hughey Chapel. Masonic rites were conducted by the Orel Masonic Lodge No. 759 at 7 p.m. Friday.

He was born at Keenes Feb 14, 1914, the son of Ross O. and Goldia Fleming Wood.

He was first married to Enid Withrow in 1931 and she passed away in 1957. Later, on Oct 3, 1960 he was married to Marlene Larson Laneave, of Mt. Vernon.

He was a member of the Wayne City Baptist Church and was a fifty year member and past master of Orel Masonic Lodge No. 759 at Wayne City. He was an avid golfer and active in civic affairs in Wayne City.

Mr. Wood was preceded in death by his parents, first wife and an infant brother.

The Survivors

Surviving are his wife, Marlene; three sons, Dr. Charles D. Wood, of Springfield; Terry D. Wood, of Shawnee, Okla; and Raymond Laneave of Bluford; one daughter, Brenda Hiatt, of Wayne City; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one brother, Fay C Wood, of Enid, Okla; a sister, Fern Bullard, of Joliet; and several nieces and nephews.