William Watson "Bill" Wood


born in Shrewsbury, MA, on the dining room table to Charles and Daisy Wood, in the afternoon of September 26th, 1913. Bill left us to join Betsy, his beloved wife of 65 years, on May 1, 2009 at Desert Banner Hospital, Mesa. The couple will be interred in the family plot with 2 of their 4 sons at Tempe Buttes Cemetery during a private ceremony. Bill grew up as a rambunctious teen in Shrewsbury, left for the Merchant Marines during the Depression of 1931. After receiving a 3rd Mates license in navigation/seamanship, he enrolled at Boston University, receiving a BA Business, MA Business Admin.. During his collegiate career, he met Elizabeth Nelbach, Oberlin Music Conservatory. Graduate, teaching at Shady Hill private school, Cambridge, MA. They married 5/17/41 just before Bill was to be shipped out US Philadelphia, US Navy, patrolling the Meditteranean during WWII. After WWII. 4 sons followed, Pete (1943, US Dept of State). Fred (1947, Tempe Dentist), George (1949 deceased), John (1952 deceased). Bill & Betsy leave 2 sons, 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and canine friend, Charlie). Bill worked from 1953-1969 with the American Heart Association, as Betsy stayed home to raise four active, inquisitive sons. He was active in local social activities, writing articles for the Tempe Daily News, initiating the formation of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Tempe and the Arizona Institute for Peace, Education and Research (AIPER). Bill taught public health at Creighton Medical School from 1969-1973 and developed the public health department in Botswana, Africa from 1973-1979, while Betsy researched native African music. After their African adventure, Bill and Betsy returned to their Tempe home at 730 E. Granada Drive, and built a retirement summer home in Flagstaff in view of the San Francisco Peaks. They settled in to participate in the raising of their five grandchildren; Carolyn Sue, Nicholas, Danielle, Alyson, and John. Later came great grandchildren, Jon and Addison Friedman. The Woods traveled the U.S. during the 1980's, speaking about their experiences and adventures in Africa. Bill and Betsy were involved in many activities during the rapid development of Tempe from 1958 until the present and are missed by all who knew them.

Published in The Arizona Republic on May 4, 2009

BETSY WOOD

Elizabeth Nelbach Wood (Betsy) born in Yonkers, New York in the year of the great 1918 flu epidemic, to George J. and Inez Nelbach, Betsy set the standard for overcoming obstacles. As a precocious eighteen year-old, she stood on the train platform at Grand Central Station saying goodbye to her father as she left for Oberlin's Music Conservatory. "Afraid", he asked? "No", she stated, with an air of confidence in her voice. After four lively years, she graduated with a bachelor of arts in music from Oberlin University. In addition to her rigorous curriculum, she performed in the girl's singing choir and was elected chaplain of her dormitory. She followed her graduation in 1940 with a music teaching position at the Shady Hill School of the Performing Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was in Cambridge, Massachusetts that she met a young Boston University graduate student, William W. Wood, who became her lifetime marriage partner of 65 years. A cathedral wedding in Yonkers was cancelled, much to the chagrin of mother Inez, due to Bill's orders to report immediately to the department of the Navy. A justice of the peace ceremony took place in Newton Center, Massachusetts, witnessed by Bill's sister and her husband, Roger and Carolyn Hardy. Betsy's major project for the next three decades was raising and educating four active sons: Pete, Fred, George and John. After a 1958 migration to Tempe, she enhanced the experience by giving piano lessons, accompanying musical productions and teaching junior high music at Valley View School in the Roosevelt District and McKemy Junior High in the Tempe Elementary School District. Camping trips were the main vacation ritual for the Wood family, planned and organized by Bill and Betsy, with the aid of four energetic youngsters. In the mid 1960's Bill and Bets helped establish the East Valley Unitarian Universalist Church of which Betsy was a member until her death on April 19, 2006. In 1973, Bill and Bets left the Valley of the Sun for an adventure, which lasted seven years in Botswana, Africa. Betsy studied native African music during those years which resulted in several published papers and a recording of native Botswanan folk music. Upon their return, Betsy helped built a chalet in Flagstaff to use as a summer home and began enjoying retirement. Retirement was supplemented with the occasional rearing of five grandchildren, membership in the World Federalist Association, the Arizona Institute for Peace and Freedom and the Unitarian Universalist Church. Betsy demonstrated a quiet grace; yet firm commitment of principle throughout her life and she will be greatly missed by all that had the pleasure to know and love her. There will be an informal gathering of Betsy's friends at the Granada Drive home, 4pm on Saturday, May 13th, to share remembrances, songs and photos with Bill and the Wood family. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 10th at 4pm at the Unitarian Church, 69 E. Del Rio, in Tempe, Arizona. Betsy's wishes were that donations be directed to the Tempe Unitarian Universalist Church, in lieu of flower or gifts. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytrinune.com

REGARDING THE MUSIC ALBUM:
Betsy's record of Botswanan Music (online at another site)

While traveling across Botswana in 1983, ethnomusicologist Elizabeth N. Wood captured music from Tswana–Sotho tribal descendants and Basarwa Bushmen, whose songs cover themes such as war, hunting, farming, school, and religion. Singing styles range from unison to harmony to call–and–response and are often accompanied by clapping and stomping, with an occasional whistle or drum. Instrumental tracks feature instruments such as the mbira (thumb piano) and lengope(mouth bow). Liner notes include a description of Botswana’s geography, ethnic groups, music, and dance. Lyrics and track notes are also included.