Barbara Deloras (Fullerton) Wood

Born Jan 30, 1938, Huntington, West Virginia

Died Jan 30, 2022, Moreno Valley, California

Married Harold L. Wood (Widowed)

Survived by her only son L. Robert Wood

Barbara was born to Gretchen and Robert Fullerton of Huntington, West Virginia where she grew up during the later days of the depression with her two brothers Donald Everette and Robert B Fullerton. Barbara loved to go camping and was present at most every Boy Scout activity her father and brothers attended. After graduating Huntington High School, she began studying to become a nurse and attended nurse’s training at Morris Memorial Hospital, in Huntington, WV., which I believe was eventually incorporated into what is now Marshal University, as she always identified with Marshal. She completed her internship at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, DC. before returning home to Huntington where she became a visiting nurse spending her time tending to those families who were in the more rural areas in Cabell County.

Barbara was fearless and many might have called her a true ‘tomboy’ in that she not only loved to have the occasional drag race, but when it was needed, she could even borrow a trash truck during a union strike to collect the garbage from the dorms she was staying in.

It was this drive and fearlessness that guided her to California in the early 60’s. After moving to California, she would often spend several nights having dinner with relatives, swapping stories and on occasion, going out to the Coconut Grove to celebrate special occasions. While working at a hospital in the greater Los Angeles area, she met her future husband Harold Wood who was working as a Social Worker there. She and Harold eventually married in 1964 and in 1965 had a son and moved to the Pomona area.

Her drive and determination kicked in yet again when she worked with the Visiting Nurses Association to become the discharge planner for the Pomona area hospitals. While working there, she met several fantastic people who would become lifelong friends.

Barbara eventually moved away from the Visiting Nurses and began working for the Red Cross, eventually opening, and running the Pomona blood donor center where she stayed for several years.

Barbara enjoyed hosting parties, and many an Easter would have Barbara and Hal hosting huge Easter Egg hunts and welcoming relatives and friends to their Pomona home, where all the children would come to hunt hundreds of Easter Eggs. While living in Pomona, Barbara and Hal became involved in the Boy Scouts of America. Hal became an assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and Barbara became a Den Mother for her son’s Cub Scout pack. During this, time Barbara brought all her knowledge of camping and scouting from when she was a girl and became active in the local council working with the Cub Scout programs. Barbara and Hal were always welcoming to family and friends and would often host kids who just needed someone to listen. With Barbara’s nurturing personality and Hal’s Social Work background their house became a haven for kids and adults who just needed someone to talk to.

Barbara and Hal with their son Robert eventually moved to Upland, California where she continued her Scouting activities. During her time with the Old Baldy Council, she was an integral part of forming one of the first Cub Scout Day Camps in the area. Her drive and determination again served her well as she coordinated buses, supplies, and program activities, as well as recruiting staff and donations. She continued working with the Scouting program for several years until finally deciding to slow down (just a bit).

Barbara by this time had transitioned from the Red Cross and eventually accepted a job as a nurse at the Webb Schools of California in Clairmont. While there she worked with several amazing people who became her good friends and would often go on camping trips as a “traveling nurse” on school sponsored camp outs, becoming a surrogate “mom” for several of the students over the years that she worked there.

Eventually Barbara’s arthritis began to be a bit too much and she was forced to slow down. She would continue to go on fishing excursions, but they would become less frequent. As she settled down into retired life, she would still enjoy spending time with her friends. She loved to play cards and would often visit friends for game nights or meeting up at Starbucks to play kings in the corner. She also loved to spend time with her new grandchildren as her son had married into an established family of two darling daughters, one of who would become her and Hal’s ‘apprentice’, helping to maintain the house and learning to bake pies, as well as being a source of comfort as they grew older.

After Hal’s passing, Barbara moved in with her son in Moreno Valley. She still liked to go on various day- excursions, spending time with friends and still playing cards as often as she could.

Barbara’s health was steadily declining. She was experiencing more pain, however, she would never tell you and would always brush off any concern. She was more interested in how you were doing and what was going on in your life rather than her own. Eventually Barbara was moved to a Board and Care in Moreno Valley where she spent her remaining few years. She still liked to keep in touch with old friends, however, she began to experience severe dementia, which limited her ability to interact with them. Barbara passed on her 84th birthday peacefully, knowing that her life had been well spent.

As I write this, I realize how much my mother loved life. She was always giving of herself and her time. She never complained about her pain, even though I could tell she was suffering. I remember so many times where I would tell her to slow down and her response was always, “If I slow down, I’ll stop”. It became her mantra, and she would constantly keep moving. She was always a kid at heart, looking at the world through a lens tinted by childlike curiosity, always wondering what was just beyond the horizon. She was fierce and determined when she set her mind to something, and nothing could stop her. During her formative years, she fought against male dominance and would win. She was just as caring, causing many of my friends to consider her their “other mom”. I will miss her terribly, and I will continue her legacy and carry her in my heart as I try to leave the world a better place than I found it.

Barbara Delores Fullerton Wood

Jan 30, 1938, to Jan 30, 2022

I love you mother, rest now and be at peace

Leslie Robert Wood – son