Clifford E. "Gene" Wood III

Clifford Eugene Wood III passed away on 06/12/14 peacefully in his sleep from natural causes. Gene grew up in Lubbock, Texas and moved to Albuquerque 50 years ago to take his first job in investment banking. Gene was a decorated Vietnam Veteran and a lifelong American Patriot. Gene was an Entrepreneur and founded or was an owner of numerous businesses in the local area including Solar Age, Freedom Phone, Aegis, Titan Technologies and several bars and restaurants. He was one of the original owners of the Downs at Santa Fe and was a former owner of the “Stadium Club” at the Dukes baseball stadium. Gene was an avid golfer. He enjoyed playing in many golf tournaments with his father and later his friends. Gene was one of the charter members of the Rio Rancho Golf and Country Club and helped start the Charlie Pride Celebrity Golf Tournament to raise money for cancer research. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Tex and Joyce Wood, and his sister Lou Ann Hicks. He is survived by his wife of more than 13 years Judy Wood, his children Melissa Wood, Amy Wood Hayes, Russell Wood, Mandy Wood, Richard Trudeau, Julie Ann Guitard, Laura Kay Sokora, Matt Hayes, Pat Guitard, and Bernadine Trudeau, his former wife Paula Wood, his niece Kay Hamm and her husband and children Mike Hamm and Max and Cooper Hamm, his sister-in-law Ann Berger and husband Max Berger, and his grandchildren Rachael Mary Guitard, Christopher James Wood, Kathryn Joyce Wood, and Alexandra Kay Wood. A viewing will be held at French Funeral Home on Monday June 16th. Services will be held at French Funeral Home 10500 Lomas Bld. N.E. Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday June 17th at 10:00am with graveside services to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Russell Wood, Richard Trudeau, Pat Guitard, Maj. Gen. Jack Sheppard USAF Ret, Lt. Col. Mel Utley US Army Ret, Brig. Gen. George Treadwell US Army Ret, and Andy Frias. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gene Wood’s honor to Children’s Hope, a non-profit company that his daughter Melissa Wood is a founder of. Children’s Hope offers residential care and treatment for children that have been severely abused and are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Children’s Hope 518 Ave. H Levelland, TX 79336 Please visit the online guestbook for Gene at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH - Lomas 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500

Clifford E. "Gene" Wood III

September 3, 1943 - June 12, 2014