Richard Wheeler Wood, a native of Hampton, Virginia, passed away peacefully March 5 ^th , 2022, with his wife and one of his daughters by his side.  Richard was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia.  He was a proud member of the Hampton High School Crabbers Class of 1958.  Upon graduation from High School, he entered the Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding.  He worked for NNS for 20 years.  He and his family moved to Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he worked for and retired from Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Richard was an avid sports fan.  He coached, umpired, and refereed a variety of sports throughout his life.  He supported and cheered on his daughters through dance, cheerleading, basketball, and softball.  He was extremely proud of his grandsons and the men they have grown to be.  He was a kid at heart and loved taking family vacations including Disney World, OBX (Outer Banks of North Carolina) creating wonderful memories with his daughters, grandsons, and great-grand daughter.

He loved his family whole-heartedly and gave back to the communities in which he lived.  He was a member of Arlington Heights Baptist Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  As a member of Kiwanis, he served as Lieutenant Governor then as Governor of the Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District of Kiwanis International.

Richard was known to many by several different names: Woody, Dickie, Mr. Woody, Pop Great Pop.  He never met a stranger.  If you met him once, you were a friend for life.  He loved his family, friends, and LA Dodgers.  He will truly be missed.

Richard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Eva Dale Wood.  Daughters, Cathy Beasley (Michael Mensi) of Brandon, MS, and Ann Barber (Kevin) of Hampton, VA; grandsons, Kevin R. Barber (Sarah) of Yorktown, VA and Hunter Beasley of Phoenix, AZ; great-granddaughter, Vani Barber; brother, John Wood of Hampton, VA; cousin, Marshall Booker (Porter) of Poquoson, VA and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents, John Bennett Wood, Jr. and Ida Catherine Wheeler Wood, his beloved sister Mary Jane Padgett.

Visitation will be Friday, March 11 ^th , 9:00-10:00 a.m. with a service following at 10:00 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS.

A visitation will also be held Wednesday, March 16 ^th , from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton, VA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in his memory to St. Jude's, Shriners, or any other children's charities.