Gene Wood

Las Cruces- Our beloved father and brother, Gene Wood, 85, of Las Cruces, New Mexico and formerly of the Magic Valley, passed away on Christmas Day in Las Cruces.  He was born October 5, 1930, in Grace, Idaho, the third son of Earl and Alice Wood.  His early years were spent in Grace and then the family settled on a farm in Wendell, where Gene learned the value of hard work.  After graduating from Wendell high school, Gene served his country in the US Air Force in the Korean War where he saw combat duty.  Following an Honorable Discharge, he settled in Jerome, Idaho, where he met and married the love of his life, Virginia Moore, affectionately known as "Ginger."  Shortly after their marriage, Gene was accepted into the Border Patrol, which afforded he and Ginger the opportunity to live in many different locations.  He retired with the rank of Chief after 30 years of service.  After 45 happy years of marriage, Ginger passed away in 1994.

Gene loved basketball, camping and fishing and was a skilled wood worker.  In his later years he also enjoyed attending horse shows.

Gene is survived by three children, Terry Gene (Beth) of Las Cruces, NM, Susan (Tom) Preckett of El Paso, TX, and Scott B. (Atsuko) of Irving, TX; two brothers, Loyd Wood of Nampa and Roy Linn (Raquel) of El Paso, TX, and one sister, Bettie Winterholler of Jerome.  Gene married his caretaker, Kristi, in 2012, who also survives him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ginger, their infant son Joey Lane, and two brothers, Joe S. Wood and Earl LaVar Wood.

In the words of Gene's friend, Stephen L. Wilmoth, "Gene Wood was a gentleman, tall, slender, silvery haired and distinguished in both looks and carriage."

A Memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. , Thursday March 3, 2016 , at Farnsworth Mortuary Chapel, 1343 South Lincoln Ave., Jerome, ID 83338. www.farnsworthmortuary.com