Mrs. Ruth M. Wood

April 13, 1930 - February 14, 2021

Ruth Mabel Daniels Wood, 90, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts died Sunday, February 14, 2021 of complications of SARS-CoV-2. Born in Pittsfield on April 13, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Noel and Ruth Emma Walton Daniels.The eldest of ten, she helped raise her nine siblings lavishing them with gifts from her first job at England Brothers Department Store. She married Arthur Robert Wood in 1951, divorced in 1964 and raised seven of her eight children on her own. As a life-long member of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church she was a scout leader, choir mother, head costume maker for musical productions, and a choir member for 25 years; later coordinating the weekly dinner offering, St. Stephen’s Table for anyone with food insecurity. She restarted her employment career as a crossing guard, Avon representative, and Head Start teachers aid, earning all but 3 credits of an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. In her forties she brushed up on her high school shorthand skills and landed a job with GE Accounts Payable upon her first interview. She retired from GE in 1993 to care for her ailing mother. At the same time Ruth bought Berkshire Gift Baskets in Pittsfield and brought delight to hundreds of people through her creative designs. After retirement she fulfilled a life-long desire to volunteer at the Hancock Shaker Village. She admired their non-sectarian love for the world and told many stories of how they welcomed orphaned children and teens during the hard times of her childhood. She loved the workmanship of the oval boxes, the innovation of the round barn, their contribution of the first running water system in Pittsfield, and the medicinal gardens that supplied the area. Ruth is predeceased by four children, Andrew James Wood, Debra Ann Wood, Kenneth Allen Wood, and Patricia Ann Wood, brothers David Allen and Thomas N Daniels Jr. and sisters Jane Ball Hand and Betty-Lou Daniels Petell. She is survived by her eldest son Robert Wood (Rita) of West Virginia, and daughters Susan Barnes of Pittsfield, Donna Maree (Charles Carr) of Philadelphia, and Pamela Stonsby of Fairfield, CA; Her brothers George H Daniels, and William Daniels, Jr., and sisters Mary Frances Adams, Jeanne Musgrove, and Margaret Ann Gardner; Ten grandchildren, Layn Stedman of Pittsfield, Matthew Barnes of Pittsfield, Cameo Wood of San Francisco, Ryan Wood of Texas, Aliah Bakari of North Adams, Katie Claxton of Tortola, BVI, Brian Stonsby of Fairfield, CA, Ernest David LaDouceur of Arizona, Marissa Wood and Andrew Wood of Pittsfield; Thirteen great grandchildren, Xain Stedman, Sasha Stedman, Nye Stedman, Elizabeth Stedman, Finias Barnes, Gavin Barnes, Phoebe Porter, Jordan, Melanie and Maverick Wood, Nathan and Matthew Stonsby, Lilith LaDouceur-Murray, and the newest, Sky Claxton, 9 months. Funeral Notice: A Memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Barton’s Crossing Homeless Shelter, 1307 North St, Pittsfield 01201 or to St. Stephen’s Table food program, 67 East St, Pittsfield, 01201