Joseph Stanley Wood January 31, 1939 - November 15, 2025

Joseph Stanley Wood passed away early Saturday morning November 15, 2025 following a stroke which occurred as he was sleeping.  “Stan” as he was known throughout his life was 86 years old.

He was born January 31, 1939 in Cedar City, Utah to Lothair Durfey Wood and Leah Louise Francom. He was welcomed into the family by his four and a half year old sister, Carol.  He moved with his family from Cedar City to Spanish Fork in 1942.

Stan received his elementary education at the Thurber School, his secondary education at Spanish Fork Junior High School and Spanish Fork High School where he graduated in 1957. At the age of 14, his father asked him to work for Premium Oil Company on 400 South and Main Street.  He was pleased to accept this offer which terminated his previous summer employment of ‘thinning sugar beets’, on his hands and knees in the summer sun, in the farming fields surrounding Benjamin and Lake Shore west of the city. Working for his father Stan learned how to change oil, add grease to lubricate steering, flush radiators, repair flat tires, change out batteries, stock shelves, clean restrooms, and shovel snow off of driveways.  He pumped gas, cleaned windshields, inflated tires and checked the oil for every customer.  His standard work shift was 10 hours each day for six days a week. The best skill that he learned was how to interact with customers which served him well throughout his life.  Stan had ‘the gift of gab’ which enabled him to talk to people he had never met without either side feeling awkward.

Immediately following high school graduation, Stan moved to Saint George, Utah at the invitation of his Uncle Blaine (aka Beaner) who offered him employment at the Premium Oil station in Saint George, Utah.  He worked for Beaner for one year prior to returning to Spanish Fork where he again began working with his father.  He also began dating Sharon Daniels, who he knew in high school who was also in the Spanish Fork First Ward where he attended church.  It was the summer of 1958. They began dating and were married October 30, 1958 by Bishop Mark McKell. They lived in a basement apartment for a short period of time prior to moving to 855 East 100 South.  During the years that he studied at BYU, Stan continued to work with his father at Premium Oil while Sharon worked for Mountain States Steel to help with Stan’s education expenses.

After graduation from BYU and in the Spring of 1966 Stan accepted an employment offer from Kaiser Permanente.  Stan, Sharon and their daughter Cynthia moved to Oakland, California where they lived for the next 3 years. In 1969, Stan accepted a promotion to work as the Financial Manager for Kaiser’s Cleveland, Ohio office.  The family moved to Westlake, Ohio. Stan worked in the Cleveland office for several years until he accepted another promotion as the Chief Financial Officer for Kaiser’s Georgetown Region in Washington, D.C. which resulted in their move to Burke, Virginia in 1980.

Stan retired from Kaiser as the Georgetown Regional Vice President in 1995.  After retirement, Stan ‘free lanced’ his financial skills until 2005 when he and Sharon returned to Spanish Fork where he worked for Wal*Mart for several years.  In February 2024 Stan moved to assisted living at Seasons of Santaquin where he enjoyed daily visits
with many new friends.

Stan enjoyed traveling with his wife, visiting cemeteries, boating on Lake Anna in Virginia, ruminating about the past and spending time with his grandchildren. He loved road trips, especially ones that he made across the United States. He had a dry sense of humor and was a great story teller. Stan was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He and Sharon ‘sealed’ their marriage for time and eternity in the Washington, D.C. Temple in the year 2000.  He was pleased to serve in any calling that was offered to him, the last of which was in the Payson, Utah Temple as an ordinance worker.  He had a deep understanding and testimony of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ through his study of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  His faith in Jesus Christ was unshakeable.

Stan is survived by his daughter Cynthia McCoy (Will), his sisters Carol Bennion and Laraine Wood, his brother Garth Wood (Susan), and his grandchildren Danielle Embrey (TW), Kristopher Meyer (Ellen), Lauren Meyer, Shelby McCoy, and great grandchildren Katelynn Embrey, Hailey Embrey, Layla Meyer and Juliana Meyer. He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, his daughter Brenda, his brother Melvyn, his son-in-law
Scott Meyer, his four cats, Trish, Pumpkin, Stoney (aka Wally) (aka Skrunky Dunk) and Patches. Finally, his two dogs who were each named Pixie.

Stan’s family extends their love and appreciation to Richard Porter and the outstanding love and care of the Seasons of Santaquin staff with special thanks to Natalie Baker (who Stan affectionally called Nattie), who often shared her own Diet Coke with Stan when he was running low, and to Holly Carter and Bonnie Ballard who provided his nursing services during the last two years of his life.  Also, a special thanks to Bert McClain who provided regular Diet Coke (small bottles) which were consumed in daily multiple quantities) and weekly raspberry shakes from the Iceberg Drive Inn. We are thankful for Stan’s niece Carolyn McClain for her regular visits to Stan. To Elizabeth and Elden Apgood and their wonderful children who provided kindness, friendship, love, treats and meals for Stan during the four years between the passing of his wife Sharon and the time that he moved to Santaquin. For all of you that we know and for those that we do not know who have helped and served Stan we have seen the love of Christ as you have served and loved our father, grandfather and brother as if he were your own family.

Funeral Services are provided by Walker Mortuary. The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday November 22, 2025 at the Spanish Fork First Ward Chapel at 310 East Center Street. Viewing begins at 9:30AM and ends at 10:15AM. The funeral service is at 10:30AM with burial immediately following in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery at 400 South 400 East.