Dennis Ray Wood

SFC Dennis Ray Wood, retired, age 82 of New Castle, formerly of Coal City, Indiana, passed away Monday, August 25, 2025 after a lengthy illness at his home with the love of his life at his side, his wife of 17 years, Catherine. He was the son of Robert and Lucille (Wratten) Wood of Washington, Indiana and graduated in 1961 from Washington High School. He loved working on and riding his motorcycles, and sightseeing when being deployed and after retirement, as a companion to his wife as a travelling nurse from Florida to South Dakota. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. One of his favorite things to do was to watch old westerns, WW2, and other military related movies. He served in the Army in Germany and later as an Indiana National Guardsman for a total of 31 years. He was also a 20 year retired Civil Servant of both the Navy and the Army at the Crane Naval Base at Crane, Indiana (ammunitions and explosives) and later for the Indiana Department of the military (Motor Sergeant) at the National Guard Armory at Brazil, Indiana until his retirement in June 2003. He was a proud 25-year member of the American Legion Post # 328 Riley, Indiana and the VFW Post #7117 of Worthington, Indiana. During his many travels around the country with Catherine, he would also visit and support their local Veteran groups. He especially enjoyed Okeechobee, and Bradenton, FL and the Rapid City, SD posts. Together they attended Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and surrounding historical sites in 2008 while Catherine worked at the Rapid City Trauma Center for 3 months. They then settled in Clay City, Indiana for 18 years before finally moving to New Castle, Kentuckiana to be closer to family. Dennis loved animals and in the last 4 years he and his wife rescued and adopted four feral cats; they brought limitless happiness to Dennis.

He was preceded by his parents, a sister Roberta Pearl, brothers, Dana and wife Linda (Raney) Wood, Mike and Rita (Davis) Wood and sister Kathy and Rick Blint.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine “Cathie” (Rooksberry) R.N. retired (Jasonville, Indiana); one brother, Jim (Vicki) Wood of Plainfield, In; a sister Cecilia (Norbert) Lindauer of St. Henry, Indiana and a sister Kristie Wood of Iowa; sons Kirk Wood of Florida, Tim (Kristi) Wood of Coal City and daughters Tammy Wood and Dawn Owegi; many grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; military comrades and step daughter Rebekah(Bill) Bonis of Carrolton, Ky and their children Michael and Charlotte.

Before his earthly death, Dennis proudly recognized Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 1:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel (1415 North Gate Road, Madison, Indiana) with full military service and honors at 1:30 pm at the cemetery chapel.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery or the Wounded Warriors.

Arrangements were entrusted to Prewitt New Castle Funeral Home.