Call now for immediate attention: 772-999-5547

Call now for immediate attention: 772-999-5547

Melvin “Skip” Wood

October 19, 1936 ~ August 13, 2024

Melvin “Skip” Wood, 87, passed away Aug. 13, 2024.

He was born in Syracuse, NY, Oct. 9, 1936. He was a resident of Vero Beach for 25 years married to Rebecca Wood for 45 years.

Skip enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 and went on to become an aircraft carrier pilot defending our country during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Independence. He retired as a Lt. Commander in 1967.

The same year, he started his airline flying career, first with National Airlines then Pan Am; retiring as a United Airlines 747 captain in 1997.

Skip flew numerous aircraft, too many to list. He shared his love of motorcycle touring and boating with his wife and owned many boats. He was with the FAA SAFETY team, leading for many years. Skip was a hospice volunteer for 10 years. He was involved with Angel Flight flying children with cancer to different treatment centers.

He was extremely proud to pass on his knowledge of flying to two gifted twin boys for five years. His Saturday afternoons with his “aviation bears” was the highlight of his week.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rebecca; children, Jeffery Mark Wood and his wife Cindy, Michele Wood Haynes and Toni Wood Morson and her husband Daniel. He was the grandfather of nine and great grandfather of four. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law and two nephews and their families.

Arrangements are under the direction of Millennium Cremation Service. Condolences may be shared online at www.millenniumcremationservice.com.

Condolence

Rebecca Wood

August 19, 2024, 8:29 pm

Skip’s life will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Skyborne Airline Academy, 3530 Cherokee Drive, Classroom M, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Leave a Condolence

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How can we help?

Our caring professionals are here to assist you and your family during this difficult time. We are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to assist in immediate arrangements or pre-arrangements.

Recent Reviews

  • The service from Millennium was outstanding. Rachel was sweet, personable and very comforting. It was important to me that my dad was kept locally where I knew where he would be. Very nice facility, state of the art and quality of my fathers remains were so refined compared to my mothers years ago. I highly recommend this place for an affordable choice for your loved one. Thank you for making an already stressful event easy. With high regards, the Esposito and Keith Family.

    Esposito and Keith Family

    Vero Beach

  • Millennium Cremation provided a fantastic service to our family at a difficult time. Our beloved mother passed away in Vero Beach and the rest of the family was in other parts of the country. Due to the Covid health crisis, none of us could get to Vero Beach in person. That's where Millennium took over. They helped us manage everything, coordinated with a cemetery in Maine, managed the obituaries, expedited all the paperwork, and even delivered an important document locally that saved us days. Funeral director Rachel was a godsend, and she made it clear what she was going to do, and what we needed to do. If you know what you want, Millennium is highly recommended, and the savings versus the full service mortuaries is significant.

    M. Cross

    Vero Beach
Our Price for Direct Cremation$795

Direct Cremation Fee Includes

  • Transportation from the place of death to our family owned crematory
  • Basic alternative cremation container
  • Refrigeration of your loved one
  • Cremation performed by our crematory professional
  • Securing all required authorizations
  • Filing the death certificate
  • Notifying social security administration
  • If veteran, filing for free US flag
  • Assisting with newspaper obituaries
  • Cremains are returned to you in a temporary container

Other Fees That May Apply

  • Medical Examiner (fees vary by county)
  • Transportation outside 35 miles
  • Death certificates (fees vary by county)
  • Newspaper Obituaries (fee charged by newspaper)
  • Keepsakes
  • Permanent Urn
  • Jewelry
Start Online Arrangement
Skip to content