Ken Wood Obituary

July 1, 1934 ~ June 25, 2024 (age 89)

Obituary

Graveside service for Giles Kennard “Ken” Wood, 89, of Nacogdoches will be held at 12:30pm on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 10am – 12pm on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Laird Funeral Home.

Ken passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in Nacogdoches.  He was born on July 1, 1934 to Giles Jackson & Bobbie Wood of Silsbee, Texas.  He graduated from Silsbee High School in 1953.  He served 6 years in National Guard and 2 years in the US Army.  He spent 6 months of his military career in Germany with the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra & Soldier Show Company entertaining the troops, performing as a stand-up comedian.  He loved to make people laugh.  He truly believed that “smile and the world smiles with you”.  Completing his tour of duty with the Army, Ken went on to get a BBA degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  Immediately after graduating from Baylor, Ken was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. from which he retired after 31 years.

During the summer of 1953, Ken met the love of his life from Pensacola, Florida who would one day become his wife.  He and Betty Adkison were married in Port Arthur in 1960 and shared 64 wonderful years together.  They began their journey together with SWB Telephone Co.  They lived in numerous Texas cities with the phone company, finally being transferred to Nacogdoches in 1968.  He always said, “He died in Houston in 1968, came to heaven & has been here ever since”, referring to his love for Nacogdoches.  That is why he and his family chose to remain in “Nac” upon his retirement from SWB in 1991. 

Ken began a second career as owner of Ken’s “Basebald” Cards & Comic Book Shop in downtown Nacogdoches.  He enjoyed visiting with the kids and sharing his knowledge of cards with card collectors.

Along with that, he was collecting old records and old wind-up phonographs – repairing and refinishing the old machines.  This was a long-time hobby and developed into one of the largest such collections in East Texas.   It was eventually sold when he and Betty began to travel;  but his interest was still there, so he continued to collect and sell antiques and was partners in several antique stores in downtown Nacogdoches.

Ken & Betty loved to travel.  Together, they shared many adventures including cruises and trips to Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Europe, Ireland, Scotland and Alaska.  Most recently, they enjoyed trips on their RV and made many trips with their friends in the local Lumberjack RV Club.  They enjoyed weekly card games and dinners with friends as well as SFA Basketball games.

Ken was active in many community programs.  He was a former member of Nacogdoches Rotary Club in which he received the Paul Harris Award.  He was a charter member of the Nacogdoches Barbershop chorus, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, volunteer for the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau and member of Heart-to-Heart Chorus of First United Methodist Church, as well as a faithful member of that church & it’s Primetimers Senior Group.  He also enjoyed performing with the Lamplite Theatre.

Ken is survived by his wife, Betty Wood of Nacogdoches; children, Todd Wood & wife, Jenn of Red Wing, MN, Jana Bowden & husband, C.H. of Douglass, Gina Wood of Austin and Terri Wood of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Madyson Bowden, Hunter Grier, Noah Wood, Samantha Dunn and Bobby Wood; 5 great grandchildren; nieces, Lynda Franks & family of Silsbee, Ricky Wood & family of Lumberton and Nancy Smith & husband, Ray & family of Orange.  He is also survived by his nephew’s family (Gary Wood) of Weatherford; and his favorite brother-in-law, Ronald Adkison & wife, Margie & family of Pensacola, Florida.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Juanita Powell; brother, Johnnie Wood; niece, Anita Richardson and nephew, Gary Wood.

Memorials may be made in Ken’s honor to First United Methodist Church (Heart to Heart Chorus), Nacogdoches Treatment Center or to a charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ken Wood, please visit our floral store.