Vernal Wood

VERNAL TRUMAN WOOD

1930 – 2017

Vernal Truman Wood was the first-born child of Vernal and Glenda Wood of Murray, Utah.  He was followed by two brothers:  Merrill (Jimmie) Wood of Murray and Richard (Deannie) Wood of West Valley; and two sisters:  Suzanne (Therron) Shaw of Aurora, Utah and Linda (Ken) Bailey of Centennial, Colorado.

Vernal began working in early childhood helping on the family farm near Lark, Utah and the family gravel business near Murray, plus many after school jobs throughout high school. After his father passed away, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1950 and was assigned at various bases including Biloxi, MS; Rome, NY and Pennsylvania.  He worked mainly on F86A’s and F86B’s fighter planes using his electronic and radar experience.

After an honorable release from the service, Vernal worked at many places such as Kennecott Copper, Hill Field, and a short time near the uranium mines in southwestern Utah.  Finally in 1958 he began his career in the Federal Aviation Administration in Salt Lake City, also being stationed in many other locations including Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and many other stations in the West.  In between these assignments, Vernal attended many different months at a time at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City refining his knowledge in electronics and radar then on to computer programming and supervisory skills.

In 1965 he married Carol Pettit from Centerville, Utah and together they began their life in Bountiful raising two daughters and one son; Tonya (Mike) Day of West Valley, Utah, Terry (Will) Bejosa of Kaneohe, Hawaii and Bill who lives in Woods Cross, Utah.

In 1986 Vernal retired from FAA as a Systems Engineer to begin a long wonderful life with Carol sharing companionship and experiences of boating, fishing, golfing and traveling to various countries.  He was a very adventurous man who loved to try our new things.  Being a self-taught ‘jack-of-all-trades’ individual, he was willing to fix whatever broke or create whatever hit his need; therefore, he had every tool to tackle the job at hand.

Vernal and Carol have been married 52 happy years sharing similar experiences and blending into One.  They lived their lives for each other by being perfect companions and best friends.  He had a deep testimony of Jesus Christ, always willing to fulfill many varied callings to serve his Heavenly Father, including a call as a temple worker in Salt Lake and as a Family History Consultant.  His integrity and devotion were obvious.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, and his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Richard, three grandchildren and a great-grandson-in-law.  His wishes for any donations would be to think of those who need help in the flooding and devastation in Texas.