David “Walter” W. Wood, 87, of Oppenheim, N.Y., and formerly of Rye, passed away on May 3, 2026, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. At the time of his passing, he had the love and support of his wife and children by his side.
Walter was born on Dec. 20, 1938, in Port Chester, N.Y., and was the son of the late Frank and Nellie (Iverson) Wood. He was a Rye resident for 66 years and attended the local schools.
His childhood was filled with time spent with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, almost all of whom lived locally. Family gatherings for holidays were often spent at the family home on New Street. Growing up the youngest of his siblings, Walter was doted on by his older siblings, especially his five older sisters.
In 1961, Walter enlisted in the United States Army. During his years of service, he had several postings, ultimately ending up in Fort Knox, Ky. While enlisted, he earned the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1963.
On May 19, 1967, Walter was united in marriage to the love of his life, Geraldine “Terri” Theresa Thomas, at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Valhalla, N.Y. The couple shared nearly 59 years of marriage, constantly by one another’s side through all of life’s ups and downs. Terri and Walter always came as a package deal – you’d never see one without the other – a testament to their love and devotion to each other. They raised their three children in Walter’s family home on New Street.
He was a skilled handyman and a “jack of all trades” who could do anything from plumbing to electrical work. Walter was employed by Con Edison as a chief lineman until his retirement in 2001 after 37 years of service to the company.
In his retirement, he and Terri loved to travel, enjoying trips to National Parks and a cruise to Alaska. Soon after his retirement, Terri and Walter made Oppenheim their permanent home in a house they built lovingly referred to as “Ponderosa.”
In Oppenheim, Walter was a fixture of their tight-knit community. He was a member of the Sprite Club for many years, where friends affectionately called him “Woody.” He was most comfortable in a flannel shirt in the winter and a T-shirt in the summer (though you would never catch him at the beach) and would warmly greet friends and acquaintances with a jovial, “Hey, guy.” He had a quiet, calm demeanor, a quick wit, and was always there to help those in need.
A great outdoorsman, Walter enjoyed hunting, riding quads and snowmobiles, as well as sitting on the porch watching the animals in his backyard. He loved to tend to his property upstate, always tinkering in the garage, and took great pride in a freshly mowed lawn.
Walter loved eating chocolate chip cookies and spending time with his cat and dog, Lily and Daisy. But Walter’s greatest accomplishments and most treasured times were spent with his wife, children, and grandchildren who will miss him dearly.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Terri; his children: Barry Wood and his wife, Marilyn, of Bethel, Conn.; Debra Keating and her husband, Michael of Katonah, N.Y.; Jennifer Wood and her partner, Jerome Clark of Rotterdam, N.Y; grandchildren: Jared Clark (Korynne), Aiden Clark, Kevin Wood, Colin Keating, and Brenna Keating; sister-in-law, Lynn Carl, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
Walter was predeceased by his parents and his seven siblings: Frank Wood, Barry Wood, Marion Goane, Dorothy Briganti, Lorraine O’Connor, Audrey Crawford, and Eleanor Simpson; his father-in-law, Milton Thomas, and step-mother-in-law, Florence Thomas, and mother-in-law, Geraldine Thomas; and brother-in-law James Carl.
The family will host a Celebration of Life at a later date and time to be announced.
To leave a message of sympathy for the Wood Family, please visit www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the tribute wall or leave a photo or memory for his online memory book.
