Andrew Wood

Indianapolis, IN – Rev., Dr. Andrew H. Wood went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 3, 2020, at the age of 92.

Andrew was born in Hackensack, NJ, on December 10, 1927. Andrew (better known as “Bud”) was a graduate of Bob Jones University, where he also completed graduate studies.

Andrew was ordained to the ministry in October 1950, by Craven Street Baptist Church in Asheville, NC.

Andrew married Betty Spencer on February 3, 1951, in Hackensack, NJ. After their honeymoon, he and his new bride moved to Weaverville, NC, where he was the pastor of Boyd's Union Chapel. Later that year, he and Betty moved back to Hackensack.

Andrew began teaching in the elementary grades in River Edge and then in Hillsdale, NJ, before teaching special education classes in the Hackensack School System. While teaching full-time, he went to graduate school and completed dual masters' degrees in special education and speech therapy at Newark State Teachers College. His masters' thesis in Special Education was Christian Education of the Mentally Retarded. This thesis was later revised and became the basis for a Sunday School manual for churches interested in beginning Sunday School classes for the mentally retarded.

Andrew was an educator and speech therapist in NJ for 7 years. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Hackensack where he served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon and the pastor of a branch church in Saddlebrook, NJ, started by First Baptist Church.

During these years in NJ, a son, David, was born in December 1951, and a daughter, Ruth, was born in September 1954.

In 1961, Andrew and family moved to WI, where Andrew became the first Executive Director of Shepherds, Inc., a newly formed christian ministry established to serve the needs of developmentally disabled individuals and their families. In 1964, Shepherds Home & School was opened in Union Grove, WI. Over the next 22 years, this residential facility expanded to provide a home, education and vocational training for 156 children and adults. In 1976, Los Angeles Baptist College (now Masters University) honored Andrew with a Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his accomplishments at Shepherds. In 1986, after serving for 25 years as Executive Director and President, Andrew retired as President Emeritus of Shepherds Baptist Ministries.

After retiring from Shepherds, Andrew served as a deacon, pastor of Pastoral Caring/Adults and then as interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Medina, OH. He then served as Administrator of Northfield Christian School and chair of the missions committee at Northfield Baptist Church in Northfield, OH.

Andrew and his wife, Betty, moved to Indianapolis in 1997.

In Indiana, Andrew served for a period of time as an interim pastor for a Baptist church in Greens Fork, IN. He also volunteered in the office at Indiana Baptist College and Seminary.

Over the years, Andrew and Betty spent many summers serving in various capacities at Rumney Bible Conference in Rumney, NH. Andrew served one summer as Conference Director.

Andrew served many years on the Advisory Board of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism.

Andrew and Betty were both faithful members of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis.

Andrew was predeceased by his wife Betty (2015), his father Andrew, mother Grace, older sister Delia (Webb) and younger brother Charles, who died 9 days earlier, on March 25th. He is survived by his son David (Susan) Wood, his daughter Ruth (Steven) Lantz, 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 8 nephews, 1 niece, and his brother-in-law, George Webb.

Because of the current pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a later date to be determined.Burial will be in Orchard Hill Cemetery in Wanamaker, IN. Funeral arrangements provided by Indiana Funeral Care.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shepherds Ministries, 1805 15th Ave., Union Grove, WI 53182 or Southeast Baptist Tabernacle, 6835 Shelbyville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46237.