Thomas George Wood

Born July 2, 1929, in Red Bluff, California, Tom grew up on the family farm in Wiota, Iowa. After graduating from Wiota High School, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he met the love of his life, Sue Cunningham, at a YWCA dance. They married just two weeks before his deployment to Korea, beginning a devoted partnership that lasted 71 years.

Tom served 37 years in the Air Force, transitioning from administration to electronics, where he excelled in tracking missiles during the Cold War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for tracking the first multi-warhead missile fired by Russia. As a Reservist, Tom joined NASA, working on the Apollo 11 mission to put the first man on the moon. He was instrumental in helping design the lunar module docking mechanism.

In 1972, during the Jesus Revolution, Tom’s life was transformed by faith. He and his family pursued ministry, attending Christ For the Nations Institute. He then went on to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tom pastored four churches before serving as a global missionary alongside Sue, living in countries such as Bulgaria, China, Japan, Africa and Wales, and sharing their faith worldwide.

Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle and father, Stanley; two brothers, Gilbert and John and a sister, Irma.

Tom is survived in death by his wife Sue, his sister Marilyn Gard (Kenneth), his four children, Cathy Davis (Jim), Julie Hafer (Scott), Scott Wood (Katy) and Susan Ward (Paul).

He also leaves behind ten grandchildren Laura Falzon (Nick), Ashley Hefner (Brian), Lindsay Alvey (Josh), Austin Hafer (Maddy), Ben Davis, Caroline Draz (Rakan), Christopher Wood, Julia Wood, Micah Ward, Eliana Ward, and 14 great grandchildren who will forever cherish the memory of their beloved Papa. In addition, he leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.

Tom will be laid to rest at the veteran’s Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.

The family requests that all flowers be sent to Sue Wood at 320 N. Heights Dr, Crowley, TX 76036. Financial gifts may be made to Truth and Life Ministries, Inc, P.O. Box 363, Crowley, TX 76036.