Garrison Wood

BRASELTON - E. Garrison Wood, formerly of Lynchburg, Va., died Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., at The Olive Branch personal care home.

Born on July 6, 1915, in Campbell County, he was the son of the late Grover C. and Alberta Scott Wood of Salem, Va. He graduated from Salem High School in Salem, Va., attended Roanoke College and later Florida Southern College. He was a graduate of NABAC School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He was associated for many years with the Exchange National Bank, now Bank of America, in Winter Haven, Fla. In 1964 he joined the Financial General Corporation in Washington, D.C. and later the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from which he retired.

During the era of World War II, he served for eight years as a B-24 bomber pilot, and flew 65 combat missions with the 376th Heavy Bomb Group in Europe. For this service, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with seven clusters, the Distinguished Unit Citation and ten Battle Stars. He was also awarded the title of Honorary Member of the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force.

Following the end of WWII, he continued his military service in the Pacific where he served as air base commander on both Saipan and Iwo Jima. He later left the service with the rank of Lt. Colonel to pursue his civilian career in banking.
Garrison was a charter member and registrar of the Patrick Henry Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and later a member of the Fincastle Resolution Chapter. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and a member of the Lynchburg Rotary Club for which he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

During his years in Winter Haven, Fla., he was an active member and trustee of the Beymer Memorial Methodist Church and a charter member of the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. In addition, he was a frequent participant in his son’s school and Boy Scout activities.

After leaving Florida to relocate to Fairfax, Va., he continued to be active in Veterans affairs as a life member of the American Legion, VFW, and AMVETS in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Upon retiring in Lynchburg, Va., he became a member of the First Christian Church and remained active in the Rotary Club activities for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Arington Jessee Wood; stepson, Ernest Fillmore Jessee III and his wife Valera, Braselton; grandson, Daniel Garrison Jessee and his wife Julie of Atlanta; and nephew Marcus Scott Wood Jr., Chatham, N.Y.

Garrison was preceded in death by a brother, Marcus Scott Wood Sr.; and sister, Mildred Coalter Wood.

Memorial services by the Rev. David Cobb were held Saturday, November 27, at the Diuguid Chapel, Wiggington Rd., Lynchburg, Va. Private interment followed at Spring Hill Cemetery.