June 22 Today in OPC History

Soon after James Francis Wood married Orabell Kline on June 22, 1946, he became a member of her church, Calvary OPC, Schenectady, New York. Two years later, he was ordained and installed as a ruling elder, which began forty-eight years of continuous service on the session of Calvary Church. Known for his volunteering spirit, Mr. Wood served as a trustee, VBS teacher, and leader of the ministry to the local retirement center. Gifted with a beautiful tenor voice, he participated in the Calvary choir and was called upon to sing solos at many weddings and special events. He also was known for being able to fix anything at the church building having worked for decades as a machinist and toolmaker at General Electric.

Suffering from pancreatic cancer, Mr. Wood died and went to be with his faithful Savior on October 20, 1996 surrounded by his wife and their four children.

Picture: The session of Calvary OPC, Schenectady in 1984 with James Wood in the middle of the back row. Front row, C. Shank, J. Jansen, A. Glover, W. Chaderback; Back row, W. Mortensen, J. Wood, and Pastor Arthur Comstock.