Shirley Vance Wood's Obituary
Shirley Vance Wood, age 95, of Lewes, DE, passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022, after a brief illness. She was born on February 14, 1927, in Baltimore, MD, daughter of the late William Thomas and Emma Marguerite (Baker) Vance.
Shirley completed her bachelor’s degree from Maryland State Teacher’s College in 1948, then earned her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1959. Her career path would lead her to a thirty-year teaching career, where she would meet and influence hundreds of students through the years, giving her a tremendous amount of pride and fulfillment. After her departure from teaching, she continued to work in business for another twenty years, retiring to enjoy her family and the beauty of Southern Delaware. With a lifelong quest for learning, Shirley loved to discover new cultures, travelling by ship and she visited many countries. She enjoyed the toe-tapping sounds of Big Band Music, that often reminded her of her youth, and was a fierce competitor (virtually unbeatable) at Mexican train dominos. Above all else, she adored her family and the time that she spent with them was a treasure to her. Shirley was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend and will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to have known her.
In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William H. Wood, Jr.; her daughter, Lisa Wood Gutenberg; her son, Gregg J. Wood; her grandson, Benjmain Gutenberg; her brother, William T. Vance, Jr., and her sister in-law, Kitty Vance. She is survived by her son, William H. Wood, III (Katie Rappold) of Lewes, DE; her daughter, Joslyn Vance Wood (OJ Melahn) of Carbondale, CO; her granddaughters, Laurel Gutenberg, Heather Wood, Courtney-Wood Bednarek, Morgan Melahn, and Marley Melahn; her grandsons: Tanner and Grant Wood; and her great-grandchildren, Kyleigh, Brian, Elizabeth, and Juniper.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Mrs. Wood’s memory to the charity of one’s choice.
Please sign Mrs. Wood’s virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
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