Velva Jean Mullins Wood

Velva Jean Mullins Wood, age 82, a longtime resident of Stevens County, passed away on March 8, 2026, in Addy, WA.

Jean was born on March 10, 1943, in Lorado, West Virginia, the daughter of Boyd and Ocie Bell (Blankenship) Mullins. At the age of 10, Jean experienced the loss of her mother. Jean remained in the home for a short time before moving in with her older sister in Norfolk, VA. Jean then met a Navy serviceman named Glen Wood, and they exchanged vows on July 1, 1960, in Elizabeth City, NC.

The newlyweds started their life together with a young family of four. Jean wrapped her love around Glen and this young family, legally adopting and raising Glen's children as her own. They moved many times as their family grew from four to six over the years. Together they followed Glen’s duty assignments, and the family lived in the following areas: Norfolk, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, Rota, Spain, Charleston, SC, and then to Lynwood, WA. Jean worked in the home raising their family throughout Glen’s career. As Glen’s retirement grew closer, their family moved to the Wood family ranch in Gifford, WA. Jean became an integral part of the farm and helped with the milking of cows, gardening and harvesting, canning, feeding of livestock, haying, and operating the tractor and combine. Years later, Jean and Glen worked together in their retirement as caretakers of the Colville cemeteries. They never formally retired because there was always something to do or someone in need. Jean was perpetually in motion. She was an accomplished bowler, bowling with well-known Stevens County ladies, such as Carol Vaagan and Donna Bell. She often qualified for nationals and won many bowling tournaments. She was a consummate caregiver and took care of family and friends in their homes and in her home, often as they transitioned through their final days. She was gifted at sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She cultivated seeds and grew beautiful flowers. Jean loved to learn and spent a lifetime gaining knowledge wherever she could. Her recent years required constant care from her loving family as her health declined with Lewy Body Dementia. 

Jean was actively involved with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and in 2002 served a mission with her husband, Glen in Salt Lake City, UT, in the Family History Center. She had a passion for genealogy and loved helping others find their ancestors' records.

Jean's great love was always her large family, both in her home state of WV, where she visited often, and in her posterity of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always crocheting a blanket for a new baby, gardening, or cooking for her family.

She is preceded in death by her husband Glen in 2020, her children, Dale, Glenna, Jolynne, and Cindy, a grandson, Christopher Wood, and all twelve of her siblings. Jean is survived by her sons, Stewart Wood (Bev) of Addy, WA, and Aaron Wood (Tracy) of West Haven, UT, 19 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

The funeral service for Mrs. Velva Jean Wood will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Chewelah, WA.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Glen, at the Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville, WA. Memorial contributions may be given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Humanitarian Aid Fund. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.