In Memoriam: Fred Wood

In Memoriam: Fred Wood

Frederick L. Wood, age 75, passed away on the morning of April 23, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. Fred was born in New York City, New York and was a long time resident of Wawa, Pennsylvania. He attended Salisbury School in 1963 before transitioning to Babson College in 1967.

After working as a dynamite carrier for Amax Molybdenum Mine and as a lift operator for Keystone Resort, Fred returned back to his roots in 1977 and completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Management at Widener University. For 36 years, Fred devoted his career to working at Wawa as a Waste, Recycling & Sustainability Manager.

Following his retirement in 2013, Fred bought the Home Farm across the street from his childhood home and began diligently restoring the property to its glory days. Fred liked to keep himself busy; whether that be fishing at the Pohoqualine Fish Association, spending time at The Philadelphia Club, volunteering at the USO, taking ski trips with the Lancaster Ski Club, or attending the annual meeting at the Philadelphia Free Quaker Meeting House.

Once he became a farmer, he immersed himself into the preservation of land and various agricultural communities – joining groups like the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture in 2021, Quaker City Farmers, the Delaware County and Chester County Beekeepers’ Associations, and the Natural Lands Trust. In addition to all the various communities Fred partook, he was also a devoted public servant of Chester Heights Borough.

He was never more at home than when he was farming, hiking, fly fishing, sailing, or skiing. His love for nature always played a significant role in his life. Fred will be deeply missed by so many people. Fred was the son of the late Grahame Wood, Sr. and Emilie L. Wood and brother of the late Sybil K. Borden. Survivors: his daughter, Jessica L. Wood, son-in-law, Justin L. Brumley, beloved partner, Bonnie H. Collins, mother of daughter, Debra L. Gentile-Wood, and siblings, Grahame Wood, Jr., Emilie W. Corbin, Christopher W. Wood Sr., and Dorothea S. Wood. Services were private.