Merle Allen Wood

Merle A. Wood, 74, of Apple Grove, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his loving wife Emily Mae (Hess) Wood, Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington, WV. He was born February 17, 1938, in Charleston, WV, a son of the late Edgar Minos Wood and Nellie Frances (Gilkeson) Wood. Merle was Pastor of Riverview Baptist Church of Point Pleasant, graduated from Ansted High School Class of 1956, had served in the U.S. Navy, and was a retired operator from the Shell Chemical Plant with 30 years service. He is survived by two daughters, Rebecca D. (Jon) Bucy of Cave Creek, Arizona, and Stephanie Lynn (Joe) Hatfield of Gallipolis Ferry, WV; three grandchildren, Megan Hatfield, Erin Hatfield, and Allison Hatfield of Gallipolis Ferry; and two sisters, Karen (Jerry) Massile of Gallipolis Ferry, and Ann (Jim) Griffith of Cross Lanes, WV. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Wilcoxen Funeral Home in Point Pleasant with Pastor Gary Warner officiating. Burial will follow in the Barton Chapel Cemetery at Apple Grove, with military graveside rites conducted by the West Virginia Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.wilcoxenfuneralhome.com.