Born the only son to John Albert & Edna Florence Wood of Saint John, New Brunswick, Tom came to British Columbia in 1963 at the age of 21 where he met his soul mate & future wife, Patricia Ellen Adams while working in the orchard belt of Keremeos. From this union came three wonderful children, Thomas J., Richard Russell & Sherry-lyn.
Born with an adventurous spirit, Tom travelled from New Brunswick to British Columbia working as he went at various jobs & professions. He finally settled for 20 years in Princeton, B.C. where he trained & became a millwright for Newmont Mining Corp. until the mine closed. At this time, with his sons grown up & long gone on their own, he relocated to Blairmore to drive truck. He remained in the valley until his death.
Tom used his spare time, when not occupied with his boys or wife, Pat, to work at his hobbies at which he became quite proficient. His leather crafting, woodworking & metal works of art were of both high quality & usefulness that is not usually present in hobby products. Many family members can attest to this as most have some assortment of his works either hanging on their wall keeping time in the form of a beautiful clock or wrapped around their waist saving them from embarrassment as a decorative belt. Never idle, Tom went about his days with a carefree happiness & a plan of what he wanted to do. This quality was passed on to his hardworking sons.
Tom was a faithful husband & father. Although he didn’t always show it, his family knew that he loved them & that they were foremost in his mind. There was never a day that his boys couldn’t approach him to talk. They often say, “We could not have asked for a better father!” For Pat, he was always there. To him, she was number one above all & she remained by his side until the very end. He also remained a devoted son & brother, always keeping in touch with his mother & three sisters from his home back east.
Tom will be remembered for his honest steadiness, the gleam in his eyes as he relived a story & for his loving faithfulness to his family & close friends. He will always be loved & will never be forgotten. Rest easy, Tom!
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life include his beloved wife, Patricia Wood of Blairmore; his sons, Thomas J. (Miriam) Wood of Calgary & Richard Russell of Kamloops, B.C.; his cherished grandchildren, Ammon Soaloam, Asia Summer, Taylor Layne & Jayden Lacey; his sisters, Marilyn (Jonathan) Bountalas, Sharon (Brian) Bishop & Debra (Bernie) Melanson all of Saint John, New Brunswick; as well as the many friends that he made throughout his lifetime.
He was predeceased by his parents, John & Edna Wood & his daughter, Sherry-lyn.
The Memorial Service honouring Tom’s life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall. Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.
Fantin's Funeral Chapel entrusted with arrangements. (403) 562-8555.