George 'Delph' Wood

WEST GRAY — George "Delph" Wood, 63, of West Gray, died July 27, 2013, at his home. He was born in Portland on Jan. 25, 1950, the son of Raymond and Marie (Delph) Wood. At an early age, his family moved to Fryeburg, where he attended local schools and graduated from Fryeburg Academy, class of 1968. He was a student at Maine Maritime Academy for one year, joined the U.S. Army the same day he was to be drafted, and served his country in Vietnam. Upon his return to civilian life, he attended Southern Maine University and went on to graduate from New England Institute of Applied Science in Boston, Mass.

He returned to Maine to embark on his career as a funeral director. He was employed by Hay and Peabody in Portland, Andrews Funeral Home in Woodstock, St. Laurent Funeral Home in Nashua, N.H., Lindquist Funeral Home in Yarmouth (where in 1986 he became part-owner), and then culminated his career when he purchased his Dad's business, Wood Funeral Home in Fryeburg, which he operated from 1990 until his retirement in 2006.

Delph was past master of Casco Lodge of Masons in Yarmouth, past District Deputy Grand Master of the 17th Masonic District, a member of Cumberland-Mt. Vernon Royal Arch Chapter #1, Portland Council #4 Royal and Select Masters, Portland/St. Alban Commandery #2,  Kora Shrine and Portland Valley Scottish Rite, and Past Patron of Winnegance and Pythagoean Chapters OES. He was also a diehard fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants.

He was a compassionate and caring man to the families he served, a masterful presentor of Masonic and Eastern Star lectures; and above all, a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Gail (Douville) Wood of West Gray; two daughters, Beth Wood-Shumate and her husband Nick of Buxton, and Amy Wood-Bouloche and her Husband Alex of Portland; three brothers, David and his wife Cathy of Salida, Colo., Donald and his wife Cathy of Fryeburg, and Douglas and his wife Andrea of Kennebunk; three sisters, Dianne Apgar and her husband Stan of Troy Ohio, Deborah Larson and her husband Charlie of South Paris, and Dayle Martin and her husband Bill of Stafford, Va., and the light of his life, his first grandchild Eva.

Calling hours were held on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren St. Fryeburg, Maine. Funeral services and a Masonic Service will be held on Thursday August 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Fryeburg Congregational Church, Main St., Fryeburg, followed by burial in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Fryeburg. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Delph's name to Casco Lodge Scholarship Fund, PO Box 274, Yarmouth, ME 04096.