- Date Of Birth: April 30, 1937
- Date Of Death: February 13, 2016
- State: Utah
Jolene Holmes Geilman Wood.
Born to Joseph Bingham Holmes and Beulah Thorne Holmes April 30, 1937. She was the youngest of 4 children, Elma Jean, Beulah Mae, and Robert William. She was the only member of her family to be born in a Hospital.
She grew up in Wilson Lane, which is now part of West Haven. She attended the Wilson school, Wahlquist Jr. High and Weber High School. She graduated from Weber College in 1957 with an associate degree then attended and graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a Secondary Teaching Certificate in 1959. She graduated from the LDS institute
from both schools. She later returned to Utah State and completed a Master’s Degree in Physical education and a minor in Guidance and Counseling.
She began her teaching career teaching Girls Physical education at Wahlquist Jr. High. This was the beginning of a long successful career in the education system. She worked as a physical education teacher, an elementary school counselor and a Jr High Counselor. The majority of her teaching career was working with elementary age children that had learning challenges. She loved working with these kids. Their successes were her successes, and their challenges were her challenge. She retired from the school system after 32 years.
Jolene married her childhood sweetheart (Frank Julius Geilman) in November of 1959. Their time together was cut short due to a hunting accident. She married William Dean Wood in December of 1966. Dean and Jolene were married for over 40 years before his death.
Jolene was an active Latter Day Saint and held many positions; chorister, teacher, counselor, speech director, camp director, coach, and instructor. She did a lot of genealogy and loved to learn about her family and their lives. She spent many hours roaming cemeteries looking for the actual graves of her ancestors. These excursions were like treasure hunts for her.
After her retirement she traveled for fun and to search for antiques. She loved the old stuff. She traveled back east to see the history of her country and faith. During her travels she had a general plan and a general time frame but she just liked to go and experience whatever happened. On at least one trip she got to be on a first name basis with the On-Star navigation people. This “getting lost” was not scary for her, it was an adventure.
her yard and would research what kind they were learn their habits. In recent years her constant companion was a little dog. He was a rescued dog but they rescued each other. She loved the beauties of the earth, animals, plants, rocks, mountains, lakes, clouds and sky.
Jolene passed away after a struggle with pancreatic cancer. She will be missed by all who came in contact with her. Her feistiness and humor made her someone you wanted to be with. Her compassion and love for others endeared her to all. Her acceptance and love for her fellow man will be missed in her neighborhood and community.
Jolene is survived by her brother Robert Holmes, son Bret Geilman (Kim), step sons Brent Wood (Diane), Jeff Wood (Cindy), 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
