William Downman Hood
May 17, 1920 ~ February 26, 2015
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
William Downman Hood, 94, of Asheville, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Laurels of Greentree Ridge.
Born in Vance County to the late Robert H. and Corrine Gregory Hood, he was a computer librarian, a veteran of the US Army Infantry in WWII, and a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Hood was a member of Christian Missionary Alliance Church where he served on the church board, taught Sunday school and served as Treasurer and Elder before later becoming a member of Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church. He loved the Lord and served Him faithfully.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Miriam Lucille Candler Hood; son, John G. Hood (Peggy)of Fayetteville; daughter, Paula Jean Hood of Black Mountain; two grandchildren, Brian D. Hood and Summerlyn Hood Ryan (Ian), and two great grandchildren, Maryn and William Henry.
He honored and adored his wife, delighted in and was proud of his children, cherished his grandchildren and was eagerly looking forward to spoiling his great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road. Rev. Daniel Dockery will officiate and burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Bill was a wonderful man of God and dear friend to my dad. My love and prayers are with Mim, Jean, and John.
Jean, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences.You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
John, Jean, Granny, How wonderful to have had Papaw in our lives! He brought joy, comfort and laughter into the lives of those around him. I love the story of his grocery store. He opened a grocery store after the war. People were out of work…..he let them charge their groceries, and consequently, had to close the store ….instead of sending the people a bill, he sent them a Christmas card with their bill inside, stamped PAID!
Papaw took us all fishing every Spring. He kept chocolate candy in a basket by his chair, and always offered you some. He could fix anything. He bought gas and food for a family passing through Asheville. Their car had run out of gas, and seeing them on the street, he asked them if he could help. Papaw opened his wallet and his heart to many.
I am happy that Papaw got to live his life in service to others. It was his way.
Suzie Tice
What a wonderful man Bill was! I couldn’t help but think that the Old Men’s Sunday school class is almost all together now- and what a celebration they must be having! and sitting at the feet of Jesus- visiting with all the Saints- praising and worshiping! So good to know that we will see them again and join in the Feast of the Lamb! We to have benefited from knowing Bill and are grateful for the strong character and testimony he so quietly displayed. Our prayers are with you and for the days ahead.