Charlie Watous Wood, Jr. of Teachey, NC departed his earthly life on Sunday, July 14, 2024, while a resident of the Gardens of Rose Hill.  Born on August 18, 1926, he is the son of the late Charlie W. Wood, Sr. and Phoebe Ann Rackley Wood.  Also preceding him in death are his wife of seventy four and a half years--Lillian M. Wood; siblings—Cecil Wood, David Wood, John Wood, Judy Corbin, and Betty Jackson; and son-in-law--Harrel Hall.

Left to cherish his memory are his children—Sharon W. Hall of Wallace and Susan Allen and husband George J. of Peoria (AZ); grandchildren—Jennifer Norris and husband Greg of Rocky Point, Kristie Ely and husband John Paul of Arapahoe (NC), Jason Allen of Peoria (AZ), and Kelly Minor and husband Ryan of Cave Creek (AZ); great grandchildren—Gunnar and Gage Norris; and sisters—Mary Taylor of Jacksonville (FL), Billie Milton of Southport, and Linda Williams of Wilmington.

Mr. Wood was born in Duplin County and spent his early childhood there.  At the age of eighteen, he served his country in the United States Army during World War II.  He and Mrs. Wood were very well known as the owners and operators of Model Laundry & Cleaners for many years.  As a true "people person", he never met a stranger and was a good friend to many as well as being a good neighbor in his community.  Giving to others was always very important to him.  He enjoyed being outside whether it was playing golf with friends, fishing and spending time with family at Topsail Beach, doing yard work, plowing his wonderful vegetable garden, or grilling for family and friends.  It is noteworthy that he was known to some as a "master griller" when it came to barbecued chicken, which might be partly due to his love for food.  He was a member of the Wallace Lions Club for many years and still enjoyed playing golf at the age of ninety.  For many years, he was a dedicated member of the Wallace Baptist Church, which he dearly loved and where he volunteered for many duties over many years.  As a caring husband and father, he considered his love for family to be his most important earthly possession.  Rather than flowers, please consider a contribution to TOT (Tunnel To Towers), Parkinson's research (parkinson.org), or Hamlton's Helping Hands-7474 NC Hwy 11-Willard, NC 28478.

A funeral service to celebrate his life is set for 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2024, in the chapel of Padgett Funeral & Cremation Services of Wallace, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at 10:00 a.m.  Entombment will follow the service in the Riverview Memorial Park Mausoleum.