Obituary for Barry Payne Wood
Surrounded by family, Barry Payne Wood, M.D., age 92, died from cancer on December 29, 2020. Barry was born November 13, 1928 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Erwin Banner Wood and Juanita Payne Wood. The family moved to Houston when he was 4 years old, and it was Houston that he called home. His younger brother, James Stephen (Steve) Wood was born in Houston in 1937.
Barry attended Lamar High School, graduating in 1945. He then attended Rice University, graduating in the class of 1950. From Rice, he went to medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, attaining his medical degree in 1954.
Barry then entered the United States Army to begin his medical career. He did his internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was there he met and married his first wife, Barbara Alicia Preston. In all, he served three years in the army, attaining the rank of Captain. In addition to Hawaii, he was stationed in Korea and his final post at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where their son, Douglas Brian Wood, was born. Upon leaving the Army, Barry spent three years in the general practice of medicine in Odessa, Texas, where his wife, Barbara, sadly died in 1957.
In 1960, Barry moved back to Houston, where he completed a residency in radiology. Barry then became the Chief of Radiology for the Ledbetter Clinic of Houston, and he remained with the clinic until his retirement in 1991. Even after his retirement, Barry continued to work part-time as a radiologist for various imaging centers in the Houston area, finally retiring completely in 2001.
In 1961, Barry re-met Betty Blount Seale, a friend from growing up in Houston. They married in 1962, and Barry adopted Betty’s son, Thomas DeMoss Wood. In 1967, Barry and Betty’s son, David Harrison Wood, was born. Barry and Betty enjoyed a wonderful marriage of 52 years, until her death in 2014. They raised their children to be fine adults, and as time went on, they were also blessed with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Except for his three years in the army and a short time in Odessa thereafter, Barry was a lifelong resident of the city of Houston. He had many fond memories of growing up in Houston, enjoying the small-town feel of the city at that time. Most of all, he enjoyed the usual boyhood experiences with other kids, many of whom became friends for the rest of his life. His time in the Boy Scouts was also very memorable. Most of his troop was made up of boys from his neighborhood.
Barry was always willing to quietly donate to a multitude of worthy causes, especially those with a local impact. He was a perennial supporter of many Houston organizations, including multiple arts and educational institutions, and other charitable causes. Of particular note was his enduring love for his alma mater, Rice University. Barry and Betty, also a Rice graduate, held season tickets to the Rice football and baseball games, and they often participated in other Rice University organizations and events. They were also members for many years of St John the Divine Episcopal Church, and later of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. In his latter years, Barry’s life was greatly enriched by being a member of the Colonneh Club, a men’s social club in Houston.
Barry was always a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Friends and family alike will remember him as a cheerful, friendly, and caring human being, who treated everyone he knew with kindness and respect. He will be greatly missed by all.
Barry was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Betty Blount Wood, his first wife, Barbara Preston Wood, his son Thomas DeMoss Wood, and his brother, James Stephen Wood. He is survived by his sons Douglas Brian Wood and David Harrison Wood, daughters-in-law Rachel Wood and Amy Wood, grandchildren Andrew Allan Wood, David Powell Wood, and Katherine Elizabeth Wood, and great-grandchild Francis George Emmanuel Wood.
The family is particularly indebted to Caring for Life Home Health Inc., which provided exceptional care and assistance for Barry in his final days at home.
Because of the COVID pandemic, a memorial service will be held in the future when it can be safely conducted.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Rice University to the fund or department of the donor’s choosing. These gifts may be made online at giving.rice.edu or mailed to: Rice University, Office of Development MS-81, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892.
Barry attended Lamar High School, graduating in 1945. He then attended Rice University, graduating in the class of 1950. From Rice, he went to medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, attaining his medical degree in 1954.
Barry then entered the United States Army to begin his medical career. He did his internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was there he met and married his first wife, Barbara Alicia Preston. In all, he served three years in the army, attaining the rank of Captain. In addition to Hawaii, he was stationed in Korea and his final post at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where their son, Douglas Brian Wood, was born. Upon leaving the Army, Barry spent three years in the general practice of medicine in Odessa, Texas, where his wife, Barbara, sadly died in 1957.
In 1960, Barry moved back to Houston, where he completed a residency in radiology. Barry then became the Chief of Radiology for the Ledbetter Clinic of Houston, and he remained with the clinic until his retirement in 1991. Even after his retirement, Barry continued to work part-time as a radiologist for various imaging centers in the Houston area, finally retiring completely in 2001.
In 1961, Barry re-met Betty Blount Seale, a friend from growing up in Houston. They married in 1962, and Barry adopted Betty’s son, Thomas DeMoss Wood. In 1967, Barry and Betty’s son, David Harrison Wood, was born. Barry and Betty enjoyed a wonderful marriage of 52 years, until her death in 2014. They raised their children to be fine adults, and as time went on, they were also blessed with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Except for his three years in the army and a short time in Odessa thereafter, Barry was a lifelong resident of the city of Houston. He had many fond memories of growing up in Houston, enjoying the small-town feel of the city at that time. Most of all, he enjoyed the usual boyhood experiences with other kids, many of whom became friends for the rest of his life. His time in the Boy Scouts was also very memorable. Most of his troop was made up of boys from his neighborhood.
Barry was always willing to quietly donate to a multitude of worthy causes, especially those with a local impact. He was a perennial supporter of many Houston organizations, including multiple arts and educational institutions, and other charitable causes. Of particular note was his enduring love for his alma mater, Rice University. Barry and Betty, also a Rice graduate, held season tickets to the Rice football and baseball games, and they often participated in other Rice University organizations and events. They were also members for many years of St John the Divine Episcopal Church, and later of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. In his latter years, Barry’s life was greatly enriched by being a member of the Colonneh Club, a men’s social club in Houston.
Barry was always a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Friends and family alike will remember him as a cheerful, friendly, and caring human being, who treated everyone he knew with kindness and respect. He will be greatly missed by all.
Barry was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Betty Blount Wood, his first wife, Barbara Preston Wood, his son Thomas DeMoss Wood, and his brother, James Stephen Wood. He is survived by his sons Douglas Brian Wood and David Harrison Wood, daughters-in-law Rachel Wood and Amy Wood, grandchildren Andrew Allan Wood, David Powell Wood, and Katherine Elizabeth Wood, and great-grandchild Francis George Emmanuel Wood.
The family is particularly indebted to Caring for Life Home Health Inc., which provided exceptional care and assistance for Barry in his final days at home.
Because of the COVID pandemic, a memorial service will be held in the future when it can be safely conducted.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Rice University to the fund or department of the donor’s choosing. These gifts may be made online at giving.rice.edu or mailed to: Rice University, Office of Development MS-81, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892.