Gilbert Donnelly Wood

Life is not a journey to the grave in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOW, what a ride”. By H Thompson

Gil was born December 10, 1964 in Dallas Texas to parents Lee Files Wood and Sally White Wood.  He was their middle son. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert E White and Mr. and Mrs. Robert L Wood, Sr.  Gil died August 28, 2025 at Manor Park. He graduated from Highland Park High School in the Dallas area in 1983 where he was an athletic trainer for the football team there. He married Kathy Berg Smith in 1991, and they had one daughter Alyssa Wood born in 1997.

He married Karen Stark Johnston on January 9, 2016 and for a time, they lived in Westminster, Colorado and enjoyed the beauty that God created in mountains and rivers before ending up back in Texas. During their marriage, they toured the states of Tennessee, Colorado and South Carolina and the cities of Boston, San Antonio, New York City, and the hill country.   When Gil proposed, he did it at the Black Rose pub in Boston. A true Irish pub. The singer from Dublin sang ‘You Look Wonderful ‘ tonight in Gaelic to Karen while Gil was proposing. Karen was in high Heaven because of her love for the Gaelic language.  Her engagement and wedding rings were originally worn by his maternal grandmother. Before he retired medically, he worked for the City of Midland Parks Dept and Frontier Airlines in Denver, Colorado.  He was a Christian and member of First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas.

Memorials can be made to the Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation, 400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Midland, TX 79701, Fix It West Texas or the American Alzheimer’s Association. Or you can do the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Runs to End Alzheimer’s.

He is survived by his parents, mother Sally Sipes and his stepfather Buddy Sipes of Midland,  his wife Karen Wood of Midland, his daughter Alyssa and her husband Harley McCarthy of Breckinridge, Texas, his oldest brother Lee F Wood, Jr of Dallas, niece Amy and her husband Walker Smith of Germany and Grant Wood of Austin, his youngest brother and sister in law Mike and Shanna Wood of New Braunfels, his cousin Bob Wood and his wife Lyn of Midland; also his step-brother and step-sister Nancy and Kevin Sipes of Clyde and step-sister Kenda and David Frederick of College Station, sister in law Kathy Stark of Midland and many other cousins. Gil leaves behind his beloved cat Skid. He is preceded in death by his father Lee F. Wood, Sr, grandparents, his sister-in-law Leslie Hendrix Wood, his uncle Robert L. Wood, Jr, and his mother-in-law Reba Range Stark. He is also preceded in death by his beloved dog Miss Boo and his cat Bronwyn. They were a tremendous joy to him. He is also preceded in death by David Crites (they have been friends since they were five years old). He is survived by longtime friend Stacy Crites (wife of the late David Crites) and longtime friend Jay Beene and his wife Dorothy. And also his friend Dwight Johnson. Thank you for your life of friendship with him.  I also want to thank COM and Jessica Ledbetter for helping him with physical therapy and training. You helped more than you will ever know.

Gil’s family wishes to thank Dr Dimri, Dr Batjer, Dr Gurru, Dr Shah and their staffs, Polo Park staff, staffs at Midland Memorial hospital and Signature Care hospital, the ICU at MMH and the 8th floor there as well. We are also thankful for Manor Park Scharbauer Cottage and to the Hospice of Midland for their help with him and Walgreens store number 06122.  Also thank you to the First Baptist church family of Midland, Texas for sending him cards, drawings, and reminders of God’s love while he was alive. Some day there will be a cure, it just did not happen in Gil’s lifetime. His wife walked with him through his journey until the end and will keep doing the walks and runs to end Alzheimer’s until there is a cure.

Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at the chapel at First Baptist Church Midland.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Gilbert Donnelly Wood, please visit our Tribute Store.