Obituary of Rev. Ronald F. Wood

Neversink, NY

Ronald F. Wood, a resident of Neversink, NY, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at home after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He was 70 years old. The son of Benny and Mary Hall Wood, Ron was born on August 14, 1954, in Sherman, Texas.

Ron graduated from Sherman High School in 1972 and attended Dallas Baptist University before graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in music. Ron served as a music minister in Van Alstyne, Longview, Forney, and Austin, TX before receiving a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He also attained a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Ron served as a senior pastor or associate pastor at Presbyterian churches across Texas, including in New Braunfels, Port Neches, Wichita Falls, Lubbock, and Fort Worth. Later in his career, Ron’s ministry evolved into that of an interim pastor, which leveraged his unique skills to help churches go through transitions between leaders. This ultimately brought him to New York, where he served as an interim pastor on Long Island (Mt. Sinai and Smithtown) and Scranton, PA before retiring in Neversink, NY.

In his too-short retirement, Ron enjoyed living in and exploring the natural beauty of Upstate New York and Northeast Pennsylvania. Ron picked his dream house in the Catskills near the Slide Mountain Wilderness. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of living in nature while also spending time on household projects and yard work. On many weekends in the summer, he and Sean enjoyed camping at Hillside Campground in northeast Pennsylvania where they spent many hours relaxing and laughing with great friends. 

Ron is survived by his husband Sean McDougle; son Adam Wood, daughter-in-law Jami Wood, and grandchildren Aaron and Micah; step-son Ethan McDougle; sister Marsha Robertson; brother Kenneth Wood; former spouse Jan Strickland Marshall; mother-in-law Suzanne McDougle; and many loyal friends, extended family members, and colleagues.

Ron was predeceased by parents Benny and Mary Wood of Sadler and Whitesboro, TX, father-in-law Ron McDougle of Murchison, TX, and in-laws Jack and Marlene Strickland of Van Alstyne, TX.

Memorial contributions in Ron’s name may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation (https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate)

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 1:00pm at the Old First Presbyterian Church, 125 Main St, Huntington, NY 11743.

Funeral arrangements are honorably entrusted to Zygmunt-Murtie Funeral and Cremation Service - 845-977-6127 or visit www.zmmemorials.com.