Ramona Wood

April 3, 1912 - May 24, 2007

Ramona Edith Jackson Wood died Thursday at age 95 after an extended illness. Ramona was born in Corvallis to Edith Agnes Hall Jackson and Elmer Polic Jackson. When Ramona was 14 years old she met the love of her life, Gregory Burton “Burt” Wood, while he was visiting her oldest sister, Julia, at the family home. After her graduation from Corvallis High School, Ramona attended Oregon State University where she renewed her acquaintance with Burt. They were married in Corvallis on Feb, 23, 1935. After they married, they lived in Portland and Eugene and then moved to Madison, Wis., where Burt earned his Ph.D. While in Madison, Ramona contracted polio. With strong determination she overcame many of the symptoms and most people never knew of her illness until her later years. After Burt received his doctorate, they moved to West Lafayette, Ind., where he was on the faculty of Purdue University. In 1951, they were called back to Corvallis, where Burt became OSC’s associate dean of agriculture and they lived happily together until Burt’s death in 1990. Ramona and Burt were members of the United Methodist Church. Ramona was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and PEO Chapter S. Ramona and Burt, long-time car collectors, were active in the Corvallis Historic Automobile Club and Enduring “A’s.” Ramona is survived by her son, Gregory Wood Jr. of Henderson, Nev.; daughter Patricia Brothers of Bridal Veil; grandchildren Scott Wood of Tucson, Ariz., Kelly Froeber of Issaquah, Wash., Matthew Ewalt of Baton Rouge, La., Jonathan Ewalt of Bayfield, Wis., and Jennifer Wood of Fort Worth, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Emily, Zack and Grant Froeber. Ramona is also survived by her “honorary” daughter, Kelly Tharp of Corvallis. There will be a graveside service at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30, at Oak Lawn Memorial Park. Remembrances may go to the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis.