Herschel C. Wood, beloved husband, father and cherished grandfather died Monday, January 14th, 2013 surrounded by his family and loved ones at St. Francis Hospital.

Born in Ellis County, Texas in October 1925, he was the 10th child of 11, picking cotton at the age of 7 under the tutelage of his beloved older brother, TW. As the only one in the family who went to college, Herschel attended Texas A & M University. Applying his discipline and work ethic he had learned in the cotton fields, he became the D-Company Corps Commander in 1946 graduating in three years with honors in 1948.

Upon graduation, he moved to Houston where he met and married his Baylor beauty queen, Fern Thigpen from Chilton, Texas in 1952. He took his bride and new daughter and relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1955. In a few short years he founded Wood Adjustment Company and became President of The Oklahoma Claims Men Association. In 1970 he extended his business acumen and purchased Automotive Parts and Supply Company, Inc., with hard work and the help of his son and many dedicated employees, he built this company from a small neighborhood parts store into the dominant aftermarket wholesale auto parts distributor for Northeastern Oklahoma.

He traveled extensively with his wife and dear friends all over the world including Africa, Europe and Hawaii. He loved tennis and played well into his 70's, attending several of the US Opens.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Fern Wood, three children- Lia Sternberger of Trophy Club, Texas, Clifton Wood of Tulsa, and Kara Biden of Tulsa. He treasured his 10 grandchildren, 5 boys and 5 girls -Thomas Wood, Stuart Wood, Andrew Wood, Tiffany Turner, Ashley Turner, Hunter Turner and Austin Turner, Courtney Hosterman, Olivia Biden and Alexandra Biden. He took his entire family on vacation every year to Galveston where he loved watching them play volleyball on the beach. He is also survived by his two sisters, Teenie Vance and Lillian Granger, both of Waco and many other nieces and nephews.

He was a lion of a man whose wisdom, intelligent dry wit and kindness will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will be held at Fitzgerald's Southwood Colonial Chapel on Thursday, January l7th from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 18th at 2:07 pm. at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel at 5111 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Graveside service and reception will be held following.
Memorials may be made to Texas A & M University, Attn: Kim Blaha, 505 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77845.
Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500