Alan J. Wood

Alan J. Wood 

February 12, 1951 – June 10, 2023

Alan John Wood, 72 years old, passed from this life on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at his home. He was a lifelong resident of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, and proud of it, graduating in 1969 from Olmsted Falls High School. From his teen years on, Al’s lifetime vocation was always automotive related, reflected in the Shelby Mustangs he loved to drive as a young man, the vehicles he repaired and restored, the automotive related businesses he started and the purchase of Olmsted Auto Parts & Wrecking in 1982 which he owned and operated (and carefully tended to his roses out front of).

Until his father Woody’s health prevented it, there was always a space for Al’s dad to hang out at “The Yard,” as they called it. Upon his retirement in 2017, he sold the business to his brother and partner, Dan.

Al was community-focused, supporting youth organizations with sponsorships during his time as a business owner. To Al, Olmsted Falls was the only place in the world to live. He had many lifelong friends who will be saddened to learn of his passing.

Al had an insatiable curiosity and a lifelong passion for the endless pursuit of knowledge. Buying piles of thrift store books was his normal routine, reading more books in a month than most people read in a year. If you knew Al, you knew how much of that information he impressively retained. He could converse with anyone about anything.

He believed, and proved, that he could learn how to do most anything including building two beautiful houses by reading books and learning “how to”. Everyone who knew Alan would think that was so Al. He developed a love of aviation and earned his pilot's license using that license to travel the country and tropical destinations. His self-education led him to become a beekeeper, a woodworker, a clockmaker, a boater, auto mechanic, certified scuba diver and more.

With all his interests, of paramount importance to Al was his family. He took great pride in providing for them and ensuring all four of his daughters received a college education.

He is survived by his wife Victoria Wood (nee Mahon) and he leaves behind four daughters: Christine Wood (Kirk), Tracie Troia (Josh), Melanie Gauss (CJ) and Jackie McKay (Brett), and the seven grandchildren he adored. His passing is mourned by his siblings: Beth (Jerry) Thompson, Jennie (Ron) Dugan, Risë (Marlin) Ruhl, Robert (Elena) Wood, Daniel (Penni) Wood, along with many nieces and nephews.

Waiting to bring him home to heaven were his mother and father, Jean and Roger Wood, his brother and good friend, Thomas Wood, infant brother Jerry, and his nephew, Jason Calogar.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Olmsted Falls Schools Endowment and Alumni Association, with a special request to benefit reading and library programs. That donation would mean so much to Al to know reading was encouraged in his name. (See https://www.ofcs.net/alumniAssociation.aspx. There will be no memorial service out of respect for Al’s wishes. If you wish to share a story or sentiment, please do so.  

God bless you, Al.

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