Dr. Peter Wright Wood

Dr. Peter Wright Wood, 85, Commander, USN Retired, of Edenton, NC, died Wednesday, January 8, 2014 in Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, NC. Dr. Wood was born in San Francisco, CA and was the son of the late Ralph Waldo and Mildred Fidelia Wright Wood. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he retired in 1967 as a Commander with the US Navy, after 21 years of service. A veteran of the Korean War, his active duty included service in both the World War II and Vietnam eras. While serving he received the Naval Unit Commendation, the Expert Rifleman Medal, the Korean Campaign Medal (4 stars), the National Defense Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the Occupation Medal (Japan), the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Other accomplishments included his work in the founding of the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. A member of First Presbyterian Church in Edenton, he helped organize Wings over Edenton, and was currently a member of the Board of Directors of the First Flight Society in Kitty Hawk. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Wood. Surviving are his wife of 23 years, Barbara Jean Cummings Wood; two sons, Alan Wood and wife Henri of Kansas City, KS and Don Wood and wife Elaine of Palo Alto, CA; and a sister, Cynthia Todd of Yuba City, CA. Also surviving are Barbara's children, daughters, Deborah Ragan of Dallas, TX and Donna Lang and husband Scott of Abilene, TX; Joe Ragan and wife Jennifer of Ridgewood, NJ, and Dan Ragan and wife Mary Beth of Springfield, VA. Together Dr. and Mrs. Wood shared 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday at 2:00 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church in Edenton by the Rev. Doug Eddy. Friends may join the family in the social hall of the church the hour prior to services, and again immediately following the funeral service. Burial with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.