Daniel Davis Wood Jr.

Daniel (Dan) Davis Wood, Jr. of Altamonte Springs, Florida passed away peacefully on January 7, 2016 with his wife of over 36 years, Donna Longo Wood and son Daniel Davis Wood III at his side. Dan was 61 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Davis Wood, Sr and Catherine Wood. Dan is survived by his sister Diane Wymer of New Hope. Virginia and her husband Charles Wymer, and nieces Lucy Cryan, Lindsey Reynolds, nephews, Thomas Wymer, Andrew Wymer, and Sean Curran. Dan grew up in a small town, called Ivy Virginia. His father owned and ran the gas station in Ivy with Dan’s Uncle Bobby, his mom worked at the post office and his other Uncle ran the meat market. He said he could never get away with anything because everyone knew everything. His family had property with horses and Dan grew up riding horses. He won ribbons when he showed open jumper classes. He was in a severe car accident his senior year due to a drunk driver hitting the car he was driving. He and his mom told stories of the recuperation. Dan said the one thing he missed most was being able to ride the horse. His missed his senior year and had to return to Albermarle High School in order to graduate. Many people thought he would never go on to college due to his brain injury but he did. Dan graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science was was the “ultimate Hokie fan”. On weekends you would see him in his Hokie tshirt or sweatshirt. His home office looked like a Virginia Tech store - Hokie cereal box (never opened of course), magazine covers, hats, bobble heads, and the infamous Hokie Lunch Pail signed by Bud Foster - a symbol of work ethic and team work to achieve goals. Anyone who has come to our house knows it is ours because there is a VT sign in the yard and a VT door mat. No mistaking the Hokie Pride. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and those friendships meant a great deal. Dan was a loving son and brother, devoted husband and father, had a strong work ethic, a wonderful sense of humor and generosity to others. Most people kidded Dan about how “frugal” he was, but in reality his heart was filled with love and hope to help children and their families.For over 30 years Dan provided Christmas gifts and food to two or three families every year. Instead of exchanging gifts with his wife, Donna, they went out on a “date night” and had dinner together and then had the “wish list” of various students and families and went shopping. The only task Dan never embraced was the wrapping! He kept this part of his life close to his heart and would always say, “My wife takes care of kids.....” which was true but he left off the part that several families who would not have had any any holiday without him. He did random acts of kindness all the time; filling up a car with gas for a stranger, buying formula for a baby, buying a sandwich and a cup of coffee for a man on the street and was always humble about it. Dan worked in the most recent years for The Hay Exchange in Plant City, Florida. People who worked with Dan knew him for his seersucker shirts. He worked accounts and tried to provide the best customer service possible. Dan would always say, it was like a family at The Hay Exchange. Dan started with The Hay Exchange when it was a small work group. He enjoyed the work relationships and friendships. “It’s been a long day without you my friend, And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.” (Please see www.youtube.com "See You Again" by Charlie Puth (no rap) Many people know Dan’s catch phrase, “It is what it is !” He worked long hours, had a long drive but loved the work and the people. Dan will be greatly missed but knowing he is free from pain and at peace provides great comfort. As his wife, I had hoped for another 25 years, but that was not meant to be. I guess God needed him more. At least I have another guardian angel I know by name ! There will be no services held locally. If Dan could speak to you, he would say, “Spend time with family without the technology that consumes us. Turn off the cellphone for an hour. Go to a movie, go out to eat and have meaningful conversation.” Dan believed in spending time with family. Even when he traveled on the road he never missed calling home to talk to Daniel first and then the wife. He would try to be there for every soccer game, and every school event. He missed Daniel’s first trip to the University Miami due to an issue at The Hay Exchange. I could tell he was torn; worried about us traveling alone but Daniel understood and said, “ there will be more visits Dad.” And indeed there were more visits. Dan was extremely proud of Daniel and his accomplishments. Any opportunity he had to “brag” about Daniel, he did. Dan was raised a Baptist but attended the Catholic Church. He always had interesting questions for the priest and wondered why Catholics stood up, sat down, stood up, and then kneeled. He turned to me one day after church and said, “I am a Captist.” I said, “Dan what is that?” He replied, “ I attend the Catholic church but God gave me Baptist knees, they don’t like all the bending.” Thus the new term - Captist part Catholic part Baptist. There was many a weekend Dan got Daniel and I up out of bed to make it to church. His two favorite church hymns as a “Captist” were Be Not Afraid, and I Can Almost See the Lights of the City. Both of those songs were played for Dan in the hospital and to bring comfort to Daniel and Donna. Dan will be spending his birthday in Heaven on January 18th. He will be reunited with his parents and relatives. It will be a celebration. In honor of Dan’s memory and legacy of helping students, a scholarship will be established for a high school senior interested in pursuing a science degree, has demonstrated a love of animals , has made a meaningful contribution to the community and who has an economic need. Donations may be made to Crooms Academy of Information Technology Daniel D. Wood, Jr. Scholarship. Dan will be laid to rest late March prior to Easter weekend in Charlottesville , Virginia at the Monticello Memory Gardens. He will be buried next to his parents. “It’s been a long day without you my friend, And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.” The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. Number 6:14-26 Daniel and Donna greatly appreciate all the love and support provided by so many. The kindness of family, friends, and coworkers has been overwhelming. Thank you ! Many people know Dan’s catch phrase, “It is what it is !” He worked long hours, had a long drive but loved the work and the people.

Daniel Davis Wood Jr.

January 18, 1954 - January 7, 2016