Herbert Nathan Wood

Herbert Nathan Wood 

August 13, 1934 — March 22, 2025 

Littleton, MA & Tucson, AZ 

Herbert N. Wood, 90, passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife, Rita, and son, Alan, in Tucson after living over 40 years in the beautiful Arizona desert town of Amado surrounded by Elephant Head, mountains, gorgeous flowers, and cacti with his loving spouse Rita and step-son Michael. 

Herb was born in Littleton, MA, and raised in North Andover, the son of Roy and Alma Wood. There was a period where Alma held the family together while Roy was away, so Herb and his siblings learned self-sufficiency, and relied on their mother and each other. Playing Football in High School, he learned to be a team player, develop his athletic strength, and enjoy sports. Herb joined the U. S. Navy and worked on the USS Gordius ARL-36 a mobile landing craft repair ship where he served as a shipwright honing his woodworking skills that would become a passion for the rest of his life. He was very proud to be a Korean War veteran. He married his High School classmate Eunice (Wilcox) at a young age and started a family where they lived in various towns in MA and NH. A hardworking provider, he served as a gas station attendant, a bread and cake route delivery driver, and a supervisor for Wonder Bread Hostess Cake. 

Family vacations were highlights of the year and a tent trailer accompanied the family to exciting, formative destinations including The Smokey and White Mountains, Prince Edward Island, Toronto, Old Orchard Beach, and Forts in NY state. Visiting extended family was a priority in Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Hiking, body surfing in the ocean, playing Frisbee on the beach, and playing board games were staples that generated fond family memories. 

An avid reader and history buff Herb could be found reading novels whenever time permitted. A child of post-World War II, he regularly read the newspaper to stay informed about current events. The Sunday “funnies” were a favorite that reinforced his witty, dad-joke sense of humor with a loud infectious laugh. Herb loved following the Boston sports teams in particular the Boston Red Sox and The New England Patriots, a lifelong non-fair weather fan. 

In 1983 Herb married his soulmate Rita and he moved to Arizona where despite the initial challenges of finding work, he did what it took to provide for Rita and her young son Michael. His woodworking skills and resourcefulness made him a favorite of the Sahurita Unified School District where he drove a bus and helped maintain the school facilities as a carpenter for many years until he retired. Herb could often be found in his workshop creating all manner of carvings, furniture, and shelves or baking something tasty in the kitchen to give to family members or friends. 

Herb loved his home in Arizona and was welcomed and loved by Rita’s family, their church family at St. Ann’s in Tubac, Our Lady of the Valley in Green Valley, and anyone whom he had an opportunity to meet. 

He leaves behind families that will miss his humor, wit, old-school work ethic and caring spirit. 

Herb is pre-deceased by his loving siblings Paul, Virginia, Stuart, Hazel, Leon, and Eunice Wilcox. 

Herb is survived by his devoted wife Rita Wood and her children Debra (Dan) of Tucson, AZ, Michael (Atsuko) of Englewood, CO, and Eunice’s children Cindy (Bill) of Blackstone MA, Brenda (Lee) of Medway MA and Alan (Nancy) of Newmarket, NH. 

He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

We love you, Dad. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis De Sales Church on April 12th at 10am 1375 S Camino Seco, Tucson AZ.

A celebration of life will be held in NH and announced at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Herb, Please “Pay Some Goodness Forward”