Obituary: John Coulam Wood

John Coulam Wood 6/23/1914 ~ 8/1/2005 SOUTH OGDEN - John Coulam Wood died Monday, August 1, 2005 at his home in South Ogden. Honored at the time of his death for his many virtues: an affectionate father and sincere friend, his uprightness and integrity, firm and unshrinking in the cause of God - a true Latter-day Saint. Born in Salt Lake City to Ellen Wray "Nell" Coulam and Arthur John Wood, he grew up with his siblings in Salt Lake City and graduated from East High School, attended the University of Utah School of Engineering and served a German-Austrian Mission. Married to his sweetheart, Kathryn Williams, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 4, 1939, "She has been the light of my life ever since." John attended Columbia University School of Architecture in New York City and during the Second World War he was employed as a junior structural engineer for Tennessee Valley Authority where 13 dams were constructed. He graduated from the University of Utah School of Architecture and worked for more than 40 years as an associate architect and engineer with various professional firms: Case, Lowe & Hart and Keith W. Wilcox & Associates in Ogden, Lowell Parrish and Ashton, Evans & Brazier in Salt Lake City. Among the buildings he was proud to be associated with in Salt Lake City are the Kennecott Building, the Federal Reserve Bank Building, the Bennion Education Building and Clayton Junior High School. In Ogden: the Federal Court House/Federal Building, Weber State University Fine Arts Building, Weber Heights Stake Center, and David O. McKay Hospital. He loved spending time at his summer home overlooking Bear Lake, which he designed and built. John was instrumental in organizing the first branch of the LDS Church in Knoxville, Tennessee where he served as the first branch president. He also served in two bishoprics in Utah and with his wife he served for five years at the Ogden LDS Temple and a mission at the Family Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City. He was a volunteer "Scouter" for most of his adult life, receiving numerous awards and honors including the Bonneville Council Award of Merit for Outstanding Service to Boyhood, and the National Silver Beaver Award for Distinguished Service to Boyhood. The number of scouts to achieve the rank of Eagle under his leadership is too numerous to count. John was a life member of The Sons of the Utah Pioneers as well as Sugarhouse Chapter President. His children and grandchildren have fond memories of him: "I never saw my grandfather without a book in his hands"; "He loved to eat and must have had a hollow leg"; "He was a dapper gentleman - always meticulous in his dress"; "He was quiet and steadfast in his support for the things he cared about." John is survived by his wife Kathryn; his children Rae Ann (Brent) Harrison, Denver, CO; John W. Wood, Oakland, CA; Craig W. (Debbie) Wood, Tucson, AZ; Linda Kaye (Alan) Wiese, Ogden, UT; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren in Colorado, California, Arizona and Utah. The family wishes to express their appreciation and thanks to the wonderful staff of CNS Hospice. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 6, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84401. Friends may call at the mortuary on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Graveside service and Interment, Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, on Saturday at 3 p.m. Email condolences to the family at lom@lindquistmortuary.com