Thomas Eugene Wood

Thomas Eugene Wood Sr., 82, of Gulfport peacefully passed away on his birthday, February 19, 2022. Thomas was a native of Pennsylvania and grew up in Virginia. After joining the Air Force as a communication specialist in 1963, he completed tours in Spain and Turkey and was later stationed to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. After meeting and marrying his wife of 49 years, Sharron, their blended family including children moved to Frankfurt, Germany. There he worked at the Air Force radio site in Feldberg and together they traveled throughout Germany and Europe, often camping with family friends and the kids. Thomas was stationed again to Keesler as an instructor where he retired as a master sergeant in 1981 and then went to work as safety engineer at Lockheed Martin Michoud Facility in New Orleans in 1984. He retired from LM in 2005 and continued to work as a contract employee until 2010. He loved to travel including many cruises with family and friends and loved his dog, Casper. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Thomas E. (Nida Martin) Wood Jr. of Crestview, Fla., Joey (Donna) Wood of Richmond, Va., Tracy (Peter) Yanez of Diamondhead, Christy (Fred) Welch of Long Beach, Shannon (Eric) Payne of Gulfport; grandchildren, Michael (Tiffany) Wood of Bradenton, Fla.; David (Tina) Wood Lincoln, Neb.; Scott (Kristen) Heggins of Diamondhead, Matthew (Lynse) Wood of Crestview, Fla.; Clarissa (Steven) Day of Norfolk, Va.; Katie Heggins of Woolmarket; Zachary Yanez of Groton, Conn.; Katie Yanez of Diamondhead; Ricky Welch of Long Beach; Madison Payne, Tucker Payne and Owen Payne, all of Gulfport; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Ida Wood of Titusville, Fla., and his sister, Dorothy Gilbert of Ohio. His final wishes were to be cremated, which his family is honoring. A Celebration of Life has been scheduled for 2:00 PM Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 at the Long Beach Yacht Club. Friends are welcome to join the family as they reminisce. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers you make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, or your favorite charity in Thomas' honor. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Wood family in their time of need and asks everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.