Harry Russell 'Rusty' Wood III

Memorial Services for Mr. Harry Russell (Rusty) Wood, III, 65, of West Monroe, LA will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, March 7, 2016 in the Worship Center of First Baptist Church West Monroe, LA with Dr. Dennis Swanberg and Rev. Michael Wood officiating. Interment will be in the Hasley Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe, LA.Mr. Harry Russell (Rusty) Wood, III died March 4, 2016 following a brief illness. Mr. Wood, a former president of Bank One and Chase Bank/Northeast Louisiana region, began his career in 1969 with Central Bank and joined Ouachita National Bank and its successors in 1972 where he remained until his official retirement in February of 2016. Rusty was an alumni of Milsaps Elementary, West Monroe Junior High School, and Mangham High School. He graduated from the University of Louisiana - Monroe, as well as the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. While Rusty had many interests and hobbies, his passion was his love for family, friends, and all people. He was one of those rare individuals who genuinely cared about the lives of others and was always interested in getting to know someone and finding common interests. Anyone who knew him would say that he never met a stranger, and he enjoyed meeting people of all walks of life, worldwide. Rusty credited this mindset, as well as his later success in business to his early experiences as a young teenager working in the family owned grocery store, Mangham Jitney Jungle. Over the years, Rusty found great pleasure in serving others, and he truly loved his community. He attempted to bring unity to Monroe, West Monroe, and the greater Ouachita Parish area through his involvement in multiple charity organizations and community groups. He was affiliated with the First Baptist Church of West Monroe from infancy, aside from those years that he was in high school and college, during which time he attended Newlight Baptist in Mangham, First Baptist in Archibald, and Oak Grove Baptist in Eros before returning to First Baptist of West Monroe where he served as a deacon, teacher, and class director. He was a scholar of the bible and enjoyed a good discussion on the subject as well as visiting many areas rich in the history of Christianity. Rusty served on multiple boards and gave his time to help many charitable organizations over the years. He was a 47 year member and avid supporter of the United Way, and served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisiana Foundation. He was a past president of the American Heart Association and served on the board of the Louisiana Purchase Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Rusty was also a board member of the Ouachita Council on Aging where he focused intently on fundraising for the Meals on Wheels program, making calls on many businesses each year. Rusty was actively involved in his community and served with many groups benefiting the area which he called home. He chaired the Monroe Downtown Development Authority and was a liaison for the Monroe Citizens/Police relations board. He also served on the boards of both the Monroe and West Monroe/West Ouachita Chambers of Commerce. He was a past president of the Northeast Louisiana Bank Administration Institute and a member of the Bayou DeSiard Country Club. He was a past president and member of the Lotus Club as well as a member of their Round Table. Rusty always had a strong interest in genealogy was involved with the West Monroe/West Ouachita Historical Society and was himself eighth generation Ouachita Parish. His family played a role in the establishment and formation of our area over the past 200 years. He was a member of the First Families of Mississippi and a past president of the Benjamin Tennille Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was 32nd degree Mason and Worshipful Master of Cadeville Lodge 229. As much as Rusty loved his community, his greatest love was family and he put his heart into the farm where he lived with his wife, Pam, and their children. He cherished this time and made many happy memories over the years. Rusty loved to travel, and he and Pam saw much of the world together. After his retirement, he took great pleasure in raising registered Black Angus cows and spending time with his grandchildren. He was surrounded by friends and family who loved him. Rusty is preceded in death by his parents, Harry R Wood, Jr. and Peggy Ratcliff Wood/Hill; Maternal Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E O Ratcliff of Archibald; Paternal Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry R Wood, Sr. of West Monroe; Mother and Father-in-Law, Mr. and Mrs. Burdis Reese Allen of ArchibaldSurvivors include his beloved wife of 45 years, Pamela Darlene Allen Wood, two daughters, Tamara N. Wood LaCroix and husband, Jarrod, and Emily A. Wood Barnes and husband, Justin; one son, Douglas Russell Wood and his wife, Kaycee; six grandchildren, Harrison Dean LaCroix, Nicholas Lane Wood, Avery Allen Wood, Jackson Russell Wood, Tanner Allen Barnes, and Russell Grant Barnes, as well as one grandchild arriving in June, Emily Elizabeth Barnes; three sisters, Linda Key of Natchitoches, Debra Spencer and husband, Jerry of Mangham, and Lera Christian and husband, Scott of Chatsworth, California; Brothers in Law, Gordan Allen and wife, Elizabeth and Brian Allen and wife, Christine; numerous nieces and nephews; two aunts, Mary Lynn Smart of Archibald and Micky Ratcliff of Ferriday. Pallbearers will be Walter Dunn, William C McKie, James P Norris, Alan Williams, Douglas R Wood, Jr. and Burton Wade. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Lotus Club Round Table and the employees, officers, and directors and families of Central Bank, Ouachita National Bank and their successor affiliates, Dr. Arthur Liles, George Crain and James A. Norris.Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Sunday at First Baptist Church West Monroe, LA.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Ouachita Council on Aging, Pilots for Patients, St Jude Monroe Dream Home (care of BRACO 87 LA-856 Rayville, 71269) or to The United Way.