Catherine Theda Wood, 87, died Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, at the Riceville Community Rest Home in Riceville.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Marble Rock with Pastor Patricia Shaw officiating. Interment was in Lynwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Iowa.

Catherine Theda Reints was born July 24, 1915, north of Clarksville, Butler County, a daughter of William John and Dena (Reints) Reints. She received her education in the rural schools and attended the Clarksville High School.

She was united in marriage to Donald Asa Wood on October 6, 1939 at St. John’s Parsonage in Clarksville. They made their home in Marble Rock. When he entered the armed forces in 1944, Catherine took over the school bus route for Don, making her one of the first women bus drivers in the state. She drove school bus for 37 years with a perfect driving record.

Catherine’s interest included gardening, camping, and making quilts for her grandchildren and other family members. She was a charter member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Marble Rock in 1945, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Ladies Aid.

Living family members include two daughters, Beverly Slinger of Mason City, Judy and her husband Curtis Wallace of Riceville; three grandchildren, Rhonda (Jon) Suit of Marble Rock, Angie (Andy) Smith of Rose Creek, Minn., Dawn Wallace of Faribault, Minn; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Geraldine Bruggeman of Marble Rock; one brother, Sievert Reints of Clarksville; three nephews; one niece; two sisters-in-law; Marion Wood of Marble Rock and Erma Wood of Grand Meadow, Minn; two brothers-in-law, Max Wood of Waverly and Wes Chambers of Charles City.

She was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, David Slinger in 1982; son-in-law, Dale Slinger; her parents, and one sister, Elsa Swan.

Source: Riceville Recorder; Oct. 17, 2002 Page 11
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters