More detail on this person: Obituary: Bill was
born in Fukuoka, Japan on September 22, 1947. At
the time, his parents, Mary Margaret and Bill Wood
were assigned to the occupation forces serving in
Japan. Bill's father was in the 24th Infantry
Division. The family lore says Bill was the first
"western" baby born in the southern Japanese
island of Kyushu. It is true that due to an
absence of military doctors, Bill was delivered by
a veterinarian. General MacArthur had imposed US
rule on Japan by installing US military officers
in all the government facilities. Bill came home
to live in the former governor's house in Fukuoka.
A full house of servants fell in love with him and
taught him his first language, Japanese.
In 1948, he moved with his family to Ft Lewis. His
brother, J.Bob (later, Bob), was born in April
1950 before their father left with the 2nd
Infantry Division at the start of the Korean War.
The family moved back home to Davenport, Iowa,
and awaited the return of Bill's Dad from the war.
After some military schooling, the reunited family
moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1953 where Bill's
father taught ROTC at Punahou School. Bill and his
brother found a new home in the former Coast
Guard commander's house overlooking Kahala Bay.
The Japanese had destroyed the Coast Guard
station and the boys loved exploring the ruins.
Wearing shoes was rare, swimming in the ocean
was everyday, and Dad carried both brothers all
over Oahu on his motor scooter (no helmets!). The
house is gone now_.Tom Selleck bought the
property for his home! Bill began school in
Hawaii.
The family moved through a succession of military
assignments after that, first Ft Leavenworth,
Kansas, then Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, then Ft.
Sill, Oklahoma. The family vacationed throughout
the western U.S., always riding in style in a 1958
Plymouth station wagon with two brothers watching
America's beauty and majesty roll by through the
back window of that car. Bill was involved in
scouting and loved to "camp out," ride horses,
hike, and fish with his Dad. He would eventually
become an Eagle Scout. School was never Bill's
first interest, but there was never a better
friend or classmate. He convinced his father to
build a succession of "go carts" and was
fascinated by hot rods and racing.
In 1963, Dad was off to Korea again, so the family
returned to Davenport, Iowa. Bill loved to be back
with his cousins and was loose on the small town
streets with his bike and large group of friends.
He enjoyed school here, wrestled for the team, and
made some lifelong friends. One of them sparked
an early interest in helicopters and flying.
In 1964, the family reunited and moved to
Alexandria, Virginia. He got a red MG A sports car
and the maintenance occupied most of his free
time. He loved that car. Bill would spend two
years in Hammond High School where he wrestled,
played in the band, and in 1966, graduated.
The draft was calling but Bill decided to go to
Old Dominion College in Norfolk, Va. After one
year, Bill decided to pursue his earlier interest
in helicopters. He entered the Army in 1967,
attended flight school, and in the fall of 1968,
he departed for Vietnam where he flew OH 6, Light
Observation helicopters. He loved the flying, his
teammates, and his unit. He earned a number of
well-deserved awards for courage and exceptional
flying skill. He would say he cost the Army four
helicopters - two he flew home, and two he left on
the ground, where they landed "too hard" (ie.
crashed).
He left Vietnam and traveled to West Germany
where he continued flying the Cold War border
until leaving the service in 1972 and attending
Schiller College in West Germany. Bill spoke
terrific German and loved the food, the wine, and
the German towns. He continued flying for the Army
National Guard. He completed his undergraduate
studies at the University of Denver where he
graduated with a degree in international relations
in 1977.
After college, Bill first worked for Manufacture
Hannover Bank in New York City. The pace and
cost of the city were not really to Bill's liking
but he learned banking and finance and decided to
pursue study in these fields. He set out for
Phoenix, Arizona where he enrolled in Thunderbird
International School of Business. He got his
master's degree in international business and
found a job with a Japanese bank in Seattle. In
1986, Bill settled in Seattle where he found his
final home and his future wife, Debra.
Bill met his wife Debra at a veterans' group
meeting in 1990. His favorite line for many years
was "join a vets group, meet chicks". Debra was
the only available chick there and former
military.
After leaving his banking career, he worked for
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs to
help develop the King County Veterans Incarcerated
Program which is now a national model and a huge
success for King County. He retired in 1997 and
has spent the last 20 years working in the
community and remodeling their home.
Bill had a huge heart and was known for his calm
and pleasant personality. He worked tirelessly to
help other veterans, including being an active
member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Jim Hinde
Memorial Chapter 102, a long-time member of King
County's Veterans Program Advisory Board and the
King County Veterans Levy Oversight Board. He
enjoyed traveling to Mexico, eating good food,
listening to music, and was a true cat lover.
Trying to put Bill into words is not an easy thing
to do. He was so multi-faceted. His friends were
drawn to him for many reasons. He was passionate
in his beliefs and a strong sense of fairness. He
was also a true friend and a loving husband. There
are not many who can leave that legacy.
Preceding Bill in death were his parents William
and Mary Margaret Wood, but he will live on in the
hearts of his wife Debra, his brother Bob and wife
Margaret, his beloved nieces, Ann Marie and Lee,
his step son Eric, three beautiful grandchildren
Davin, Lucas, and Samantha, and his cats Maxwell,
Molly and Jazzmin, and of course his many, many
friends.
We are eternally grateful to each of you for your
prayers and condolences during this time of
bereavement. Our hearts are heavy for Bill's
passing. We find comfort in knowing that Bill is
resting safely. - The Wood Family
This information was last updated 06/12/2016
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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