USN Ethel Siebert Wood November 23,1921 - August 22, 2020

Ethel was born November 23,1921 in Corona, Queens, NY to Ethel (Armstrong) Siebert and Maximilian Siebert. Her sister Miriam was born two years later. Ethel graduated High School early (at the age of 16), by skipping two grades. She then went to work in Manhattan as a secretary, commuting daily from Long Island by train.
In 1943, Ethel joined the U.S. Navy as a WAVE, after training she was sent to Ford Island Naval Base in Hawaii, where she met her future husband. Her stories of life in the military were wonderful, full of adventures and many pranks! She particular liked to tell about taxing the planes around the airfield. She was very pleased that the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at the Dulles Airport had one of the planes she had taxied at the Ford Island Airfield on display. She was honorably discharged in 1945, with the rank of Machinist's Mate 2nd Class.
She married William Henry Wood, III on June 5,1947 in Long Island, NY. After moving to Connecticut, they had two children, Donald, and Susan. Ethel stayed home, volunteering with the Cub Scouts and at school libraries. When the children were older, she returned to work, as a medical librarian. Although never attending college, she pursued her education with courses and certificates in library science. She was an outstanding organizer and took great pride in her work.
Ethel and Bill moved their small family around, mostly in Connecticut. He was a tool and die maker, and together they enjoyed buying older houses to live in and restore. With the kids grown in the 1970's, regional economics moved them South to N Carolina, where they enjoyed hiking and camping in the Smoky Mountains.
They retired in 1986, and built a home in Front Royal, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. This was their dream home, on a mountain (High Knob Mt) in the woods. They hiked and camped, traveled to see family, worked around their property, and spent many hours together volunteering at Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal.
After Bill's death in 1991, Ethel renewed her interest in opera and loved attending many performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She became friends with many of the performers and patrons. She also continued her hospital work.
In 2013, at the age of 92, Ethel was injured in an accident, and moved to her daughter Susan's place in Hugo, Colorado. But after a hip fracture and surgery, Ethel required an assisted living facility to get the care she needed. She lived happily in her room at Lincoln Park Living Center from March 2014 until December 2019. She broke a leg in late 2019 and entered Lincoln Health Care Center in January 2020. She remained there until her death on August 22, 2020 at the age of 98.
Ethel was an adventurous, playful, smart, strong, and above all loving and caring woman. Her sense of humor never quit.