DOWNEY - Ralph Earl Wood, a World War II veteran who traveled different parts of the world with the U.S. Army, died Dec. 27 at LaVilla Grande Care Center in Grand Junction, Colo. He was 92.Wood was born Oct. 26, 1916 and was originally from Marshalltown, Iowa. He enlisted in the Army on Oct. 31, 1940 and served in the Headquarters Co. 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division. He was in the 5th Army in Italy, and in the 7th Army in France. He also served about two years in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. He was discharged Aug. 26, 1945. After the war, he worked at various jobs until he came to Downey, where he found work at Alcoa. He remained there until he retired. In 2002, his brother, Kenneth Wood, and nephew, Jim Wood, moved him to Grand Junction to be closer to family. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters-in-law. His sister, Doris Hoffman, still resides in Marshalltown. He is also survived by nephews and nieces from the Hoffman and Wood families. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the care of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. ********** Published: January 2, 2009 - Volume 7 - Issue 37