Karen Martin
Staff Writer
kamartin@elkintribune.com

Dr. John Wood, 57, a local Elkin dentist lost his 10-year battle with cancer early this week.

Wood was from Carthage and moved to Elkin two decades ago to join a dental practice with Dr. Eldon Parks.

Wood's first career was in zoology where he spent 10 years working in the field in Raleigh. In 1987, Dr. Wood graduated from dental school and started his second career with a dental practice in Sanford.

Wood's practice in Elkin is being serviced by Dr. Kurt Gibson and will reopen on Monday, July 27, after a 3-day closing in respect to Dr. Wood.

"Dr. Gibson has been with the practice for two weeks and will remain until further notice," Deborah Wood, Dr. Wood's wife said.

Dr. and Mrs. Wood have been married for 24 years. Survivors include Mrs. Deborah Wood, son, Chris Strickland, granddaughter, Allie Ross and grandson, Gage Strickland.

"John was a phenomanal man," Deborah said. "He was diagnosed ten years ago and had participated in clinical trials and several treatment options. He survived nine years with the cancer."

Dr. Wood had continued to practice dentistry until an approximate eight weeks ago.

"John had continued to work," she said. "He has a wonderful staff whom without he wouldn't have had the practice he did. They have been very loyal to John."

"John was a real family unit man," Mrs. Wood said. "The entire family has been here for a week and a half. There has been quite a vigil for quite a man."

"He was the love of my life, the kind you find only one time," Mrs. Wood said. "He loved our son as his own, even though Chris was his stepson. Nobody ever said step. He defined the words 'honest John.' "

Dr. Wood was also a pilot, rode motorcycles, held a NC Brokers license, was a member of the Masons, Shriners and Scottish Rite.

“He had this way of taking a nervous patient and putting you at ease,” Mike Gambill said. “He was my dentist, but he was my friend.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Prostate Cancer foundation or the NIH (National Institute of Health) in Bethesda, Maryland where clinical cancer trials are performed.