Phyllis M. Samsen Wood

Phyllis Marie (Samsen) Wood, 97, formerly of Genoa, Ohio, died Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she had been living since 2003. Phyllis was born on September 12, 1917, in Clay Center, Ohio, to Mabel L. (Widmer) and Walter R. Samsen. She married her high school sweetheart, Nelson Dean Wood, on February 21, 1942, in Toledo, Ohio. They were happily married for 69 years before Dean passed away in 2011. Phyllis was loved by her family, friends, and students from Genoa Area High School, where she taught until her retirement. She started the library at Genoa Area High School and designed the library for the new building. She was the Northwest Ohio Director for the Ohio Educational Library Media Association and was active in many Ohio library initiatives. Phyllis had a very strong faith and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Genoa and the Clay Center Presbyterian Church. She was one of the founding members of the Genoa Coterie Club and treasured those friendships even after moving to Raleigh. She especially enjoyed the abundance of beautiful trees, flowers, and birds that flourished near her home in Raleigh, and she enjoyed the constant daily visits of family and friends. Phyllis is survived by her brother, Robert E. Samsen and his wife, Joan, of Genoa; daughter, Carol Sehnert and her husband, Steve, of Steamboat Springs, CO, son, Bob Wood and his wife, Aileen, of Raleigh, and daughter, Ann Antoun and her husband, Afif, of Raleigh; six grandchildren: Jeff Sehnert, Laura Sehnert, Matthew Wood, Katie Calvillo, Amy Proseus and Emily Antoun; and ten great grandchildren: Maggie, Colby, Emersyn, Ella, Summit, Evan, Kelley, Dean, Charlotte, and Beau, and another blessing arriving soon. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dean, and her brother, Jack Samsen. The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30, 2015, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 313 Main St., Genoa, OH 43430, with interment to follow in Clay Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions for Phyllis to the Trinity United Methodist Church. The Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory of Genoa has assisted the family with arrangements.