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Beloved former Maysville mainstay Dorothy Wood dies
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Dorothy "Dot" Wood, a fixture in Maysville for more than 60 years, has died in California at the age of 99. She died Tuesday evening at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Wood was the widow of the late Clarence Wood, and came to Maysville in 1940, as a young bride. Her career ran the gamut from a notable stint as The Twilight Lady on WFTM radio in the late 1940s, to her enthusiastic work as a YMCA fitness instructor in the 1990s.
"She had so many friends and so many interests," said Zoe Chamness, a long time friend, "She was Maysville's Welcome Wagon. She made sure that new people felt welcome and she nurtured relationships with people of all ages."
"She was stylish and grew to old age looking like a million dollars," said Chamness, "She wore high heels long after most women would have put them away."
Mrs. Wood was born in Los Angeles, May 7, 1907, to Morris and Sarah Schacher. She graduated from Manual Arts High School where she was May Queen, and attended business school in Los Angeles while working at the Mercantile Trust Bank.
Clarence Wood had moved to California after law school and the two met there.
In a column marking Mrs. Wood's return to her native California in 1996, Nick Clooney called her "dynamic and attractive" and suggested California prepare for "Earthquake Dot."
Martha Comer, former editor of The Ledger Independent was no less enthusiastic.
"There's not much that Dot hasn't done," said Comer in a farewell column, "She is generous with her time and expects to do much the same in California. An abundant life has been hers, and Maysville is richer for having had her as one of its beloved citizens."
"I have a million happy memories," said Betsy Parker. "She was a remarkable woman, a beautiful person and a precious friend."
"Although I will miss her for the rest of my life, I am so grateful for her friendship," said Parker, "Heaven is a happier place. Her motto was attitude and gratitude, and she lived her life that way."The list of her accomplishments and associations is a long one. In addition to her stint at local radio, Wood served on the library board and volunteered there as a reader. She taught fitness classes at the YMCA and encouraged people of all ages to exercise and eat carefully. PTAs, Scouts, RSVP and activities at the First Presbyterian Church were all on her agenda. She raised money for the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association and volunteered with the Red Cross and KET. A member of the Tuckahoe Homemakers, she was active in the Maysville Woman's Club and was a founder of the local Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She served on the board of the Maysville Housing Authority.
Mrs. Wood was a committed bridge player who not only mastered the game, but taught young people to play. She competed at the Maysville Duplicate Bridge Club and, often partnered with Martha Comer, the two made a formidable team.
"Dot's death will leave a tremendous void in a host of friends, and certainly in me," said Donna Hatton who was very close to Mrs. Wood, "She was the Twilight Lady when I was a child and one of my dearest friends as an adult. I often said our friendship proved there was no generation gap."
"Beautiful, caring and vivacious immediately come to mind when you think of Dot," said Hatton, "She was inspirational, always motivating you to do your best and live life to fullest and that she did for almost 100 years."
Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy Lee Braudy of Los Angeles and her husband, Leo, and Eleanor Duncan Walker of Taos, N.M.
Grandchildren and their spouses include George and Betsy Fitzgerald III, of Los Angeles, David and Naomi Fitzgerald of Upper Montclair, N.J., Michelle and Bruce McIntosh and David Walker all of Taos, Charlie and Sasha Walker of Poznan, Poland, and Rio Paulden of Los Angeles. Also surviving are four great grandchildren, Max Fitzgerald, Travis Fitzgerald, Cody Fitzgerald, and Lindsay McIntosh.
Arrangements are incomplete. A memorial service is planned at the First Presbyterian Church in Maysville.
Memorials may be made to the flower fund at the First Presbyterian Church or to the Limestone Family YMCA. |
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