Hoy Brewster "Bruce" Wood

Hoy Brewster “Bruce” Wood, Jr., of Mechanicsville, MD passed away on March 6, 2015 in Mechanicsville, MD. Born on November 25, 1961 in Danbury North Carolina he was the son of “Hoy” Brewster Wood, Sr., and the late Doris Evelyn Wilson Wood of Patrick Springs, VA. Bruce was the loving husband of Karen “Amy” Wood, whom he married on September 12, 1987. Bruce grew up in Patrick Springs, VA. He graduated from Virginia Tech where he double majored in Computer Science and Spanish with a minor in Mathematics. He was a Hokie through and through. After graduation, he was hired by PRB Associates Inc. which later became Northrup Grumman, in Hollywood, MD, which brought him to St. Mary’s County. He spent his entire career there from 1984 to 2013. He worked as a Computer Systems Engineer, specializing in Database Design, Administration, and Application Programming. Bruce was a natural, gifted athlete. He played baseball, golf, basketball, volleyball, bowled, water skied, and especially excelled in downhill snow skiing. Once in a Little League game, he got a single, stole second, stole third, and then stole home, which did not make the opposing pitcher very happy. He also enjoyed tent camping and canoeing with his wife and several other couples. Every year on Memorial Day weekend, for at least 12 years, they camped on the riverbank in Luray, VA, and canoed the Shenandoah River for 2 days. Bruce was a dedicated member of Alcoholics Anonymous. On April 1, 2015, he would have celebrated 8 years of sobriety. Nothing was more important to him than staying sober. Survived by his wife Amy, his dogs Peaches and Jessie his cats Gizmo and Cari; brother Ron (Stephanie), their children; Alexis, Morgan, and Hannah; a dear lifelong family friend Juanita Harbour of Stuart, VA; in-laws Mike (Robin) Wood, Jeff Wood, and his stepson Marcus Windsor, Brenda (Steve) Dale, their children, Crystal (Joe) Sweger, their children; Kaelynn and Roland, Kelly (Ryan) Rolfe, their children; Gavin and Garrett, and Kevin Dale. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 12, 2015 from 5:00PM – 8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 10:00 AM in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Mechanicsville, MD with Father Michael Tietjen officiating. Interment will be private. Pallbearers will be Tim Yannayon, Tom Latham, Rich White, Vic Fickes, Tim Schindler, and John Leon. Honorary pallbearers will be; Kevin Dale, Joe O’Neil, Ron Ross, Kevin Kane, Geneo Bair, and Ed Hebert. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League (SMAWL), the Tri County Animal Shelter, or the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad.