Gladys Gene (Gee Gee) Ruff Wood


Departed on July 16, 2020 in Rockledge, Florida

Gladys Gene (Gee Gee) Ruff Wood, age 84, passed into the arms of Jesus on
Thursday, July 16, 2020 in her residence in Brevard County, FL after a long and painful
battle with Osteoporosis.
Born in Spartanburg, SC in 1935, Gee Gee was the only child of BZ and Frances Ruff.
She grew up loving the Lord as a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and
graduated from Spartanburg High School. Gee Gee then attended Columbia College
and received her teaching degree.
In 1957, Gee Gee married the love of her life, Donald Wood; the two had met in the
church nursery when they were toddlers. The couple moved to Melbourne, FL in 1965
and joined the First United Methodist Church of Melbourne. Gee Gee served as a
Stephens minister, sang in the chancel choir, taught Sunday School and VBS, and was
involved in various other ministries where she loved and served others. Gee Gee was
an elementary school teacher for 25 years, and for the majority of those years she
worked at Palm Bay Elementary School. She impacted the lives of countless students
that she loved with all her heart.
Gee Gee is survived by her husband of 63 years, Don, her three daughters: Donna Cox,
husband Jim, Diane Appleby, husband Matthew, and Denise Brown, husband Craig;
eight grandchildren: Breanna (John) Anderson, Jennifer (Brian) Lockhart, Sara (Daniel)
Haire, Jacob (Megan) Appleby, Rebecca (Ernest) Sanchez, James Cox, Joshua (Leslie)
Appleby, Maggie (Keith) Messer, Sophie (soon to be married to Noah Chevalier) Brown;
and ten great grandchildren that she absolutely adored. She is also survived by her
Aunt Helen Griffin, 98, of Concord, NC and Helen’s children and grandchildren.
Gee Gee was most frequently described as an “angel on earth” that loved God’s image
bearers. She loved, cared for, served, poured into, taught, smiled at, cooked for,
hugged, encouraged, sent cards to, and called to check on everyone she knew. Gee
Gee taught us all how to love, especially the unlovable. Proverbs 31:10-12, 26 was the
embodiment of her character. The Scripture says, “Who can find a wife of noble
character? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her
and he will not lack anything good. She rewards him with good, not evil, all the days of
her life… Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.”
The family hopes to plan a ‘celebration of life’ in the future when gathering as a large
group will be safer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to:
Compassion International
12290 Voyager Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Please note on check: In memory of Gladys R. Wood
or call: 888-978-9908 to pay with credit or debit

Guestbook Entry

 
 
 
 
 
 
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1 entry.
Bruce Marion from Melbourne wrote on July 31, 2020:
Don, all of us at Marion Music love you and Gee Gee so much....condolences....

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