June 27, 1955 ~ February 18, 2026 (age 70)
Leland Charles (“Charlie”) Wood passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 70 in Auburn, AL. His passing on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder both of human frailty and redemption, themes that shaped Charlie’s life, where he was marked as Christ’s own forever.
Born to Judith Arbogast Wood and Paul Alan Wood, Ph.D., Charlie was the eldest of four children. He is survived by his brother Brian Wood with his wife Heather, his sister Paula Brown, Ph.D., with her husband Ralph, Ph.D., and his sister Wendy Smith, all of whom shared with him a lifetime of family history and wonderful memories. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews: Paul Smith, Rachel Smith, Zoe Brown, Ashby Brown, Sabrina Wood, Cameron Wood, and Hamish Wood.
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Charlie attended public schools in Texas and Australia, graduating from Auburn High School in Auburn, AL. At Auburn University, Charlie received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology as well as a master’s degree in poultry science. He also completed graduate coursework in history at Auburn University, Montgomery. Those who knew him were impressed by Charlie’s detailed knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings as well as by his encyclopedic understanding of World War II German aircraft and tanks.
Through intelligence and sheer determination, for decades Charlie served as the sole breadwinner for his large family, providing for a wife and nine children. An ever-loyal husband for close to forty years, he was known for his optimism, relentless good spirits, and tireless work ethic. At the Alabama State laboratory in Montgomery, where he worked for many years, Charlie helped to protect the public from contagious diseases such as rabies. While working full-time, he often took on extra work, including serving as a popular microbiology lab instructor at Auburn University, Montgomery. During difficult days, he even worked as a janitor and donated blood on weekends to help make ends meet. Indeed, Charlie was not too proud to take any job to put food on his family’s table.
Charlie gave unstintingly of himself to his loved ones and took joy in each one of them. He had many hobbies as well, enjoying his time as an amateur blacksmith and in exposing his home-schooled children to culture and science at the “Rock Show” at Montgomery, AL. At heart, Charlie proved himself to be a generous, loyal, trusting, and self-sacrificing man. He is survived by his children Tristan Wood, Natasha Wood Ellis and husband, Kevin, Taylor Matthew Wood, Samuel Wood, Keenan Wood, Tia Wood, Nicholas Wood, Nadia Wood, and Jack Wood, Though he will be greatly missed by those who loved him, we may take comfort in the knowledge that the same devotion, sacrifice, and loyalty he showed on earth will be met with mercy and welcome beyond in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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