Edna Luella (Selbe) Wood of Cheyenne, Wyoming, died August 20, 2020, at Edgewood Aspen Wind at 95 years of age.
She was born April 24, 1925, near
Phillipsburg, Kansas. She was the second daughter born to John Carlyle
and Cora Jane Reese Selbe. She attended country grade and high schools.
She entered the five-year Nursing Program at Saint Marry College,
Leavenworth, Kansas earning both a Nursing diploma from Saint Francis
Hospital School of Nursing in 1946 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Education in 1948. Later she earned a Master of Science in Health
Education from Southern Illinois University in 1972.
She married
Elmer Leroy Wood on June 6, 1948, at the First Christian Church,
Phillipsburg, Kansas with Rev. MacDonald officiating. They moved to
Wyoming living in various towns. She worked at Ivinson Memorial
Hospital, Laramie; Belle Fourche Hospital, Belle Fourche, South Dakota;
and Memorial Hospital, Cheyenne. She started working for the Veteran’s
Administration Hospital Nursing Service in 1954 and retired in 1985.
During her nursing career she served as President of the Wyoming League
for Nurses 1962-1966; member of the Governor’s Committee for Nurses in
Wyoming 1960-1966; Chairman, Legislative Committee, Wyoming Nurses
Association; member of Cheyenne Toastmistress Club; Chairman Wider
Horizons Toastmistress Club; Chairman, Wider Horizons Toastmistress
Club, Grand Junction, Colorado; member of the American Hospital
Association for Health Manpower; member of consumer Planning Committee
for University of Southern Illinois School of Medicine; member of Task
Force for Continuing Education for Nurses in Kansas, 1980; adjunct
member of faculty Fort Hays State University School of Nursing. Mrs.
Wood co-authored two articles on Alzheimer’s which were published. She
was a charter member of Eta Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, National
Honor Society for Nurses, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas.
Mrs.
Wood received many awards during her chosen career. She was the
recipient of the Director’s Commendation for Superior Performance,
Cheyenne, 1964; honorary recognition plaque Southern Illinois Nurses
1976; honorary plaque from Task Force for Continuing Education for
Nurses in Kansas, 1982; Outstanding Volunteer Service plaque, American
Red Cross, Kansas. 1983, 1989. She was listed in Who’s Who of American
Women in 1983 and 1984 and in the International Book of Honor in 1985.
Mrs. Wood was a life member of the American Nurse Association; the
American Association of Retired Persons; the National Association of
Retired Federal Employees; member of the North Christian Church; a past
member of Eta Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society
of Nurses; past member of the Cheyenne Heritage Quilt Club; past member
of Topeka, Kansas Genealogy Society and the Phillips Co., Kansas
Genealogy; alumni member of University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth,
Kansas; Southern Illinois University and St. Francis Hospital School of
Nursing.
An avid student of genealogy for 60 years, she wrote seven
books dealing with family history. Mrs. Wood enjoyed many avenues of
fancywork – knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and tatting.
Along with reading, volunteer activities and helping others, she worked
for the Laramie Co. Election Board several years, considering the
activity a valuable learning experience.
Mrs. Wood was the mother
of three children. She was a Girl Scout leader for three years; a
sponsor of Boy Scouts; a teacher in Sunday School for five years. Her
interest in the children was constant and their welfare was a guiding
and controlling factor in her life.
Preceding her in death were her
beloved husband of 51 years, Elmer Leroy Wood, on September 12, 1999;
her parents, John Carlyle, and Cora Jane Reese Selbe; and her sister
Hazel Ilene Selbe Tracy.
She leaves to mourn her, her three
children: two daughters – Carolyn Ann Wood Helling and her husband
Robert; Wanda Lee Wood Harris and her husband, James; and a son – John
Leslie Wood. Three grandchildren – James R. Harris III and his wife,
Michelle; John Carlyle Harris; and Ryan Scott Helling. Three
great-granddaughters, Elizabeth M. Harris, Anastasia M. Harris, and
Victoria R. Harris also sisters, Dona Minerva Irene Sutherland and Sarah
Ann McKinley, MD, and numerous nieces, and nephews.
Cremation has
taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of
Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. At the request of the deceased no memorial
service will be held. Internment was conducted in Cheyenne Memorial
Gardens. Donation may be made to the charity of choice.