- Date Of Birth: June 14, 1941
- Date Of Death: September 17, 2022
- State: Maryland
On Saturday, September 17, 2022, Rev. Jerry Rodger Wood, loving husband, father and pop, met his Lord and Savior face to face at the age of 81 following a long illness.
Jerry was born on June 14, 1941, in West Chester, PA, to Lester and Golda (Dowell) Wood. On December 23, 1961, he married Nancy Merritt. Together they raised three children.
Jerry was ordained as a Baptist minister May 8, 1966. In 1972 he founded the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Nottingham, PA, where he served as pastor for much of his ministry. He also pastored Mercy Missionary Baptist Church in Bay View, MD, in the 1980s.
He dedicated his life to serving God and sharing the good news of the gospel with those near and far. Countless lives were touched by his ministry and came to faith in Christ through his example. In the week before his passing, he told us that he wanted everyone to know that “I love them and Jesus loves them.”
He retired from General Motors Corp. in 1993 after 29½ years of service and helped to build their Rising Sun home. Jerry loved classic cars, sweets, and his dog Scooter.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; a loving step-mother, Frances Wood; a brother, Donald; and two sisters, Helen Wood and Joyce Gerzema. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Nancy; sister, Joan Garver; daughter, Tracy Raymond (Pete) of Conowingo; son, Daniel Wood (Cindy) of Elkton; daughter, Vicki Karschner (Chris) of North East; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
