Benjamin J. Wood

Benjamin Jay Wood, age 75, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on April 8, 2025.

Ben grew up in Toughkenamon, PA, the middle of five beloved siblings. He graduated from Kennett High School, Class of 1968. From a young age, he spent summers working in his father’s construction business and was always ready to fix anything that broke, especially cars.

He really loved his ’57 Chevys, his ’72 Barracuda, and his Triumph motorcycles. Ben worked as an auto mechanic for 46 years. He owned and operated O'Brien’s Automotive Service in West Chester, PA with his wife Shirley, beginning in 1988 until his retirement of August 2014. Many of their customers became his life-long friends.

In his adult years, he was an avid golfer, student of holistic medicine, and fan of Motown and jazz music. He relished spending time with his family in Bethany Beach.

Ben is survived by his wife, Shirley "Shirl" Wiley Wood of Chadds Ford, PA, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage; his daughter, Lynsey Wood Jeffries (Dave Jeffries) and his grandson, Pete Jeffries of Washington, DC; his son, Jeffrey Wiley Wood of Milton, DE; and his siblings, Patty Bowlsbey (Joe Bowlsbey) of Northeast, MD, Holly Babcock (Dennis Babcock) of Kennett Square, PA, Gail Buchanan (John Buchanan) of Kennett Square, PA, and Mike Wood (Marilyn Wood) of Myrtle Beach, SC.

You are invited to visit with Ben's family and friends at London Grove Friends Meeting (500 Street Road Kennett Square, PA) from 4:00-5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, remarks will follow. Interment will be private. 

Memorial donations may be made in Ben's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (give.michaeljfox.org) or to Linden Hall (fhkennett.org/donate) at Friends Home of Kennett Square.

Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square (484-734-8100). To view Ben's online obituary and offer condolences, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.