Lavern Lewis Wood of the Village of Lucketts (Leesburg, VA) passed away peacefully at Brookdale Sterling on July 30, 2015. Vern was born in Waverly, Ohio, on June 12, 1925, to Dallas and Sarah Eileen Wood. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Audrey Dean Wood, and a sister, Nannie Hundley of Leesburg, VA along with nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. His parents and two brothers, Eldridge and Leonard, predeceased him.

Vern's family moved early in his life to West Virginia. As a teenager in high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II and after six weeks of basic training was deployed to the south pacific participating in the battle of Okinawa, among others, including the retaking of Guam from the Japanese. The Government and citizens of Guam were so appreciative of the armed forces that gave them back their country, they invited ALL the participants back for an expense paid 50th celebration which Vern and his wife attended.

After the war, Vern returned to high school to complete the GED test and go on to college. He graduated from Marshall University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. While at Marshall, he belonged to the Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Sigma Alpha fraternities. Upon graduation and while in retail sales training, he was recalled by the Marines for a second tour during the Korean conflict.

Receiving a second honorable discharge from the Marines, Vern located to the Washington, D.C. area and was employed by the Armed Forces Security Agency, which later became the National Security Agency. He enjoyed his work at NSA (where he was affectionately called "Woody") but wanted his wife to see California where he spent his first days with the Marines. He left NSA to live in Long Beach and worked for Douglas Aircraft for several years. Missing his family and friends on the east coast, he returned to the DC area resuming employment at the NSA.

Vern decided to change his career and try a sales position with the Addressograph-Multigraph Corp. His sales success took him to the Bell+Howell Corp. where he stayed until his retirement as the National Federal Government Sales Director. After his retirement, he became a "gentleman" farmer supplying timothy hay to the surrounding horse farms. A private pilot, Vern thoroughly enjoyed flying, owning his own plane for a number of years.

Honoring Vern's wishes, there will be no service. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Co. #10, 42367 Lucketts Road, Leesburg, VA 20176; the Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C.; or Capital Caring, 2900 Telestar court, Falls Church, VA.