Cebern Riley Wood, Jr. was born in Mills County, Texas, on Wednesday, August 10, 1932, to Cebern and Leola Wood. The eldest of six children, Cebern suspended his college plans due to a tragic house fire. The college money he earned and saved was given to help his family start over. This sacrifice exemplified a lifetime of selfless devotion to work and provision for his family. For most of his life, he lived in the North Texas area, most notably in Weatherford and Haltom City. For the last 10 years, he lived in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Cebern married his forever “bride,” Neva Shull, on December 20, 1952, and immediately enlisted in the Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He served three years before transferring to the Army Reserve unit in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served for over 25 years, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant.

He began his civilian career as a bank teller before going to work for the Timco Aircraft Corporation in warehouse supply. In January of 1966, he was hired on at Bell Helicopter. He had a 31 year career with Bell, making his way from warehouse to management. In 1978, Bell moved him to NAS Whiting Field outside of Milton, Florida, to manage the warehouse supplying parts to the US Navy Helicopter Training Facility.

After retiring from Bell in July of 1997, Cebern began a second part-time career refinishing furniture. He was a skilled craftsman. Many times people would bring him broken, worn furniture, and he would restore it to “like new” condition. As a PePop, he built heirloom-quality toys and cribs for his grandchildren.

Over the course of many years, Cebern completed a comprehensive study of the Bible through his participation in Bible Study Fellowship. From 2012 through 2025, he read the Bible cover to cover each year. He was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church, Weatherford, Texas in 1975 and served in three different churches. 

Cebern passed into the arms of his Savior on his 94th birthday, August 10, 2026. He was preceded in death by Neva, his wife and precious “roommate” of 61 years. Two brothers, David and Franklin Wood, also preceded him in death.

Survivors include sons Reverend Steve Wood (Lynn), of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Scot Wood (Shaw), of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren Patrick Miller (Jen Akin), Riley Wood, Eva Kubasiak (Rhett), and Megan Rigall (David); great-grandchildren Callie and Taylor Kubasiak, Arthur and Riley Rigall; brothers Alden Wood and William Wood, both of El Paso, Texas; and sister Mary Fonville, Azel, Texas.

Family and friends will gather Saturday, August 22, 2026, at White’s Funeral Home in Weatherford, Texas, to celebrate Cebern’s life. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., and the service will be at 11:00 a.m..