Eldred John Wood Jr., 88, of Wellsville, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2025 at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville.
John was born in the town of Rathbone, NY on July 6, 1936, the son of the late Eldred L. and Mary M (McCaig) Wood. He was a 1954 graduate of Wellsville High School.
John attended Alfred State College for two years following high school. He then entered the US Air Force, from 1956 to 1960, serving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. On December 25, 1960, he and the former Audrey L. Dwight were married at the Hedgesville Presbyterian Church in the Town of Woodhull. Audrey preceded John in death on August 10, 2023.
After leaving the military, John and his family moved to Wellsville and later various other locations including Dryden, NY while John pursuing his Masters Degree in Education at Cornell University. Following his time at Cornell, John’s family resettled in Wellsville. He was a long-time Conservation and Heavy Equipment instructor at Cattaraugus - Allegany BOCES in Olean. John was a union representative for the Teacher’s Association at BOCES.
John and Audrey were dedicated members of the Brookside Wesleyan Church in Wellsville. He was an avid whittler and was a member of the Wellsville Whittler’s Assoc. He also had a passion for John Deere tractors.
John is survived by his children, Mary Ellen Wood of Wellsville, Jacquie Wood of Nunapitchuk, AK, John (Becci) Wood of Norton Shores, MI, Dwight (Marie) Wood of Wellsville, David Piraino of Topeka, KS, Frank (Brenda) Piraino of Topeka, KS and Paul (Chris) Piraino of Painted Post, his grandchildren, Brandy Leigh Wood, Rita Aguchak, Audrey Wood, Jackie Wood, Darryl Wood, Phoebe Wood, EJ (Mallory) Wood, Ariel (Nic) Guptill, Caleb (Alli) Wood, Micah Wood, Taylor Laudenslager, Jonnathon Wood, Dwight (Kristin) Piraino, Justin (Lauren) Piraino, Jessica (James) Kelly, Angela (Will) parker and Lauren (Tom) Towner, great grandchildren, Dre, Claire, Maverick, Kaylie, Jax, Jace, Cooper, Weston, Evelyn, Nathaniel, Levi and Reese and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his wife Audrey, John was predeceased by his parents, Eldred and Mary Wood, his brothers, Robert Wood, sister-in-law Ann Wood and Erwin Wood and his sister, Juanita Cook and brother-in-law Merle Cook.
Friends may call on Saturday, April 5 from 10 am to noon at the Brookside Wesleyan Church, 3469 Andover Road, Wellsville. Funeral services will be conducted there at 12 noon. Burial will be made in Woodhull Cemetery on Monday morning, April 7.
Arrangements are with the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Woodhull, NY.
