Kelton Bryce Wood, 74, formerly of Manassa, passed away July 10th, 2018 in the Rio Rancho Center Nursing Home in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, after a long battle with the fatal staph infection known as MRZA which infested an injury to a toe and foot.

Kelton was born in Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 11th, 1943, Armistice Day, to Homer Wood and Melva Layton Wood.

Kelton and Twila grew up on a farm and cattle ranch in Manassa, and loved living on the cattle ranch with all of the different animals.

Kelton attended La Jara Elementary School from 3rd grade thru half of the 10th grade in La Jara High School. He excelled in the sports of football and basketball which he loved.

Kelton transferred to Manassa High School during his sophomore, junior and senior year, continued to play basketball and football and graduated from Manassa High School in May 1961.

Kelton married in 1961 and was employed in Bagwell’s store in Manassa. Later he was employed by Tom and Joe Kelloff in Kelloff store in La Jara, Colorado.

Kelton spent many years of his life in management of retail grocery stores in Alamosa-Daniels Super Market, Safeway, Arapahoe, Walmart, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, retiring from Walmart in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2008.

Kelton was drafted into the US Army during the Viet Nam War finishing basic training in Ft. Bliss, Texas, deployed to Ft. Rucker Alabama as a helicopter maintenance tech, was in flight to Viet Nam when the pilot was ordered to turn the plane around and go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, drop Wood and another soldier off to board a plane for Germany where he finished his service.

Survivors are his wife of 35 years, Sharon Bright Wood, his three children: Richard Wood (Donna) of Golden, Colorado; Staci McHattie (Steve) of Lakewood, Colorado; Jon of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two step children, Shelly Pino (Ben) of Santa Fe, N.M.; David Holliday (Francine) of Rio Rancho, N.M., and his sister Twila Wood of Manassa, Colorado, and eight grandchildren and one great grandson and many cousins.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Kelton was loved and admired by his family, friends and coworkers, by his congeniality and witty, funny personality.

He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Funeral services were held at Daniels Mortuary in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and burial followed in the Veterans National Memorial Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico.