Lewis William Hood

Lewis William Hood of Royal Oak, MD passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at Talbot Hospice House, Easton, MD. He was 92. Born October 23, 1915 in Winamac, IN, he was the son of the late William Thomas and Jenny Sutton Hood. A 1932 graduate of Winamac High School, he was a member of the 1932 basketball team which was runner up in the Indiana State Championship. Team members were consulted by researchers for the movie “Hoosiers” which was based on a 1950’s match involving a small town team from Milan, Indiana. He then attended barber school and during World War II served in the U.S. Navy. For the next forty-six years he owned and operated a barber shop in Winamac where he and a partner worked together for the first twenty-seven years. He was a founder of the First Methodist Church Men’s Choir in Winamac that he helped establish in the mid 1950’s. A Masonic brother since 1947, Mr. Hood achieved 32nd degree as a proud member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Winamac Lodge No. 262. His wife, the former Helen Rose Calhoun, whom he married in 1938, died in 1995. In 1988 he moved with his wife to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Helen was ill enough to require entry into a nursing home in Centreville, MD and Mr. Hood began residing with his son, Rich, wife Suzanne, and their children, Lewis, then 7, and Lance, then 3. Lew a/k/a/ Papa Lew, resided with Rich and Suzanne until illness in early 2008 forced him to require full-time health care in Easton. After moving to Royal Oak in 2003 he became a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in St. Michaels. A lifelong athlete, he was a frequent and enthusiastic participant in activities, trainings and marathons at the YMCA of Talbot County where he made many friends over the years. Mr. Hood is survived by two children, Rebecca L. Roller of Carmel, IN, and Richard L. Hood and his wife Suzanne of Royal Oak, MD; six grandchildren, Susan Sandlin and her husband Jordan of Columbus, OH, Nancy Fortune and her husband Rob of Noblesville, IN, A. Brock Roller, M.D. and his wife Fabiana of Iowa City, Iowa, Allyson Horst and her husband Monte of Cleveland, OH, Lewis Woodward Hood of Easton, MD, and Lance Warren Hood of Virginia Beach, VA; and seven great-grandchildren, Derek, Aerin and Devyn Fortune, Peyton and Logan Sandlin, and George and Hayes Horst. He was predeceased by one brother, Forrest Hood and a sister Dorothy Burke. A Celebration of Lew’s Life will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD where friends are invited to mingle one hour prior to the service. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 from 6 to 8 PM at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, IN where a Masonic Service will also be held that evening. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, Winamac, IN with burial at McKinley Memorial Gardens, next to his beloved Helen. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made for assistance to needy children to the Strong Kids Campaign of the YMCA of Talbot, 202 Peachblossom Road, Easton, MD 21601. Photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/suzypeace/BestOfLew2007

Lewis William Hood

October 23, 1915 - May 21, 2008