John A. Wood

John A. Wood, BA ’53, DMin, died March 15 at his home in Waco, surrounded by his family. He was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Fort Worth to Frank Marion Wood and Doris Jeannette Wolfe Wood. John lettered in football and track at Fort Worth’s Polytechnic High School and graduated in 1949. At Baylor, he majored in Bible with minors in English, history and Greek. He was a member of the Baylor Letterman Club and Baylor Chamber of Commerce, a yell leader and served on the Honor Council. John’s leadership and preaching skills were strengthened during his Baylor years with the Youth Revival Movement. He served on the Baylor Board of Regents from 1986 to 1992. John earned two master’s degrees and a Doctor of Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He was Kentucky Baptist Pastors’ Conference president, Georgetown College trustee, Western Recorder director and Kentucky Baptist Convention president in addition to many other state and denominational positions. John and his college sweetheart Patricia Ann Alexander, BA ’54, married Aug. 3, 1954. They served at the Graefenburg Baptist Church, Waddy, KY; First Baptist Church, Russellville, KY; First Baptist Church, Paducah, KY; and First Baptist Church Waco. John gave of himself unselfishly and his sermons were televised for over 22 years in Kentucky and in Texas. In 1992, John was named director of ministries for Christian Mission Concerns, founded by the late Paul and Katy Piper. John established John Wood Ministries and ministered in the former Soviet Union. He also established the International Medical Education Foundation and was awarded the Ukraine Order of Merit for helping improve the delivery of medical care. The Baylor Alumni Association also awarded John the Abner V. McCall Humanitarian Award in 2013. John never lost his enthusiasm for sharing the love of Jesus. He traveled and preached in 48 countries, conducted 13 preaching missions and published several books. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Frank Marion Wood Jr. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Patricia; son John Alexander Wood, BBA ’82, of Waco; daughter Lea Ann Wood Edwards, BBA ’84, and her husband, former U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Waco; grandson JT Edwards, BSME ’18 and his wife Lily, BFA ’19, of Fort Worth; grandson Garrison Edwards, BBA ’20, his wife Gwen, and their daughter Elena Renee Edwards of Waco; sister Mary Anne Wood Lane of Wichita Falls, TX; and cousin Jeanie Seybold of Fort Worth.