The Rev. Claude Jacob Wood
Our hearts are broken as we announce the death at 94 of our Husband, Father, Pop, Dad, Father-in-Law, Grandpa, Pop-Pop, and one of the Amazing Pistolero’s, the Rev. Claude Jacob Wood.
On Saturday, January 7, 2023, Claude laid down to rest and passed peacefully in his sleep, lying next to his soulmate of 67 years, Gladys.
Claude was born in Fowler, Colorado on October 23, 1928, to Clyde and Lona (Fitzpatrick) Wood, brother to Maurine, Ruth, and Clyde Jr. After the death of his brother Clyde, (1940) and his father, (1941) he and his mother moved to San Diego, California where he attended Point Loma High School, class of 1946. Jobs he held as a youth were in a commercial laundry service, gas station, grocery, and at Convair in San Diego.
After graduation, Claude owned a race car that he and his buddy ran at the Balboa Racetrack.
In 1951 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, During this time he was assigned to a Provisional Battalion which was flown to Nevada to participate in an atomic bomb drill. They witnessed the blast from a distance of one mile, then marched through the blast to view the damage. Later he was an aircraft repair instructor. While stationed in Memphis, he met the love of his life, Gladys Coppock, whom he married in 1955, shortly after his release from the Marine Corps.
The newlyweds made their home in San Diego, where he enrolled at San Diego State University, and then Chapman University in Orange. Claude graduated in 1957 with a degree in Philosophy.
While attending school he was the Youth Director at Fullerton Christian Church.
In 1958, Claude, Gladys, Bob, and Linda moved to Iowa where he enrolled in the Drake University, School of Divinity and was a Student Pastor of the Christian Church in Hedrick. Their daughter Carol was born while in Hedrick. Claude was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1962.
In 1963 Claude and Gladys received a call to the First Christian Church in Adel, Iowa.
In 1971 they were called to the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, Iowa, where they stayed until their retirement in 1993.
At retirement, Claude and Gladys wintered in Texas for the next 18 years.
Claude’s hobbies included ham radio operation, fishing, target shooting, small engine repair, photography, rock hunting, and teaching Spanish. He also enjoyed playing cards, clogging, and ballroom dancing with Gladys and their friends.
Claude is survived by his loving wife Gladys, son Bob Wood (Karen), daughters Linda Wood Shotwell (Charlie), and Carol Wood Anderson; Grandchildren; Mary Fortney Korobov (Mark), Kenneth Jacob Delgado (Mallory), Lowe Delgado, Wade Anderson (Sarah), Joshua Anderson (Becca), Nathan Anderson (Taylor), and Luke Anderson; Beloved great-grandchildren; Lilianah, Finley, Charles, Evie, Kaeden, Harper, Nolan, and Sonny Jacob.
Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, IA.
A visitation with refreshments will be held following the memorial service starting at 3:00 p.m. in the fellowship room of the United Church of Christ.
Memorials may be directed to the Rev. Claude Family and will be designated to many of his favorite charities and organizations. They may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.
