Tyrus Wood

Tyrus Raymond Wood, 87, of Spartanburg, passed away on Monday, October 5, 2009, at the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. A native of Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Jesse Landrum and Minnie Moss Kaiser Wood. Ty enjoyed a long retirement after 31 years service with the U.S. Postal Service. He attended Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg Methodist College (then known as TII), and Wofford College, where he was a talented basketball and baseball player. He was batboy for the American Legion World championship team in 1936 and captain of the 1938 American Legion Baseball team that played San Diego, CA, in the Little World Series. He also served as an American Legion coach. In addition, he was an outstanding player in Textile League baseball and on the Peaches semi-professional baseball team. He was a member of the American Legion, St. John's Masonic Lodge #333, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Hejaz Shrine Temple, and was instrumental in organizing the baseball Old Timers Reunions. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II as a radar technician, a new technology at the time. He was a member of Morningside Baptist Church where he was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, serving as president for several years, and as an usher for many years. He was a caring husband and father. Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years, Betty McMillin Wood; and two daughters, Lindy Wood Sanders and her husband Henry, and Susan Wood Pope and her husband Tim, all of Spartanburg. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Hank Sanders, Millie Sanders Thomasson, Dottie Sanders Tyson, Mary Caroline Sanders Brown, Adam Pope, and Will Pope, and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Caroline Wood Sams of Spartanburg, and was predeceased by a brother, Jesse L. Wood, Jr. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at the Chapel conducted by the Rev. Dr. Kirk H. Neely. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Hank Sanders, Adam Pope, Will Pope, Will Tyson, Brent Thomasson, and Royce Justice. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Friendship Sunday School Class. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Morningside Baptist Church Building Fund, 897 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. The family is at the home. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Tyrus Raymond Wood please visit our Sympathy Store.