James "Jim" William Wood

On Friday, October 23, 2020, James "Jim" William Wood, beloved husband and father of five, passed away at the age of 85.

He was born November 4, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, to William Edwin and Mary Jane (nee Smarkol) Wood. He said at age six he wanted to be on the radio, especially as a sports announcer. Upon leaving the University of Toledo just shy of graduation, he would pursue what would be a lifelong radio career, starting as a morning DJ, eventually rising into radio management positions and was the Vice President of Booth Broadcasting upon his retirement. For him, the greatest moments of his profession were the nearly two decades he broadcasted the University of Michigan football games.

But his greatest love belonged to God and his family. On October 22nd, he celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary. For over 30 years he taught adult Sunday school at the Church of the Nazarene in West Chester. He even produced a little book on the Bible's teachings on love.

His voice was his signature, and everyone who knew him remembers him either singing or humming or whistling. And sometimes he'd sing the songs he wrote, mellow country songs, some that were even recorded.

But no portrait of Jim is complete without adding further strokes of maize and blue. Sorry Ohio, but he loved University of Michigan football more than any pastime imaginable.

Jim was preceded in death by: parents, William and Mary Wood; sister, Betty Szombati; brother, Ray Wood; and son-in-law, Jonathan Kwitny.

Jim is survived by: wife, Gayle O. (nee Watkins) Wood; children, Wendy Kwitny, Cindy (David) Bell, Willy Wood, Beth (Doug) Lance, and Lynn (Shawn) Carson; grandchildren, James Kwitny, Peter Kwitny, Susanna (Luke) Grecky, Shane (Aime) Hohlbein, Brynn (Ben) Holthus, Halley Bell, Christopher Bell, Taelor (Mickey Pekar) Wood, Hannah Wood, Lindsay Lance, Elle Lance, Lily Lance, Bella Carson, Olivia Carson, and Lucy Carson; great-grandchildren, Will Ryan Hohlbein, Weston Hohlbein, Graham Holthus, Quinn Holthus, and Emma Grecky; sister, Patty Loeffler; and many more loving family members and friends.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 10:00 AM until time of Funeral Service at 11:00 AM at West Chester Nazarene Church, 7951 Tylersville Road, West Chester, OH 45069.

Graveside Service will be Monday, November 9, 2020 at 11:30 AM at Toledo Memorial Park, 6382 Monroe Street, Sylvania, OH 43560.

Memorial donations may be directed to: Hospice of Cincinnati or Crossroads Hospice (special gratitude to Julie and Phil) or West Chester Nazarene Church.

Mueller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.