David Griffiths Wood
Marriages
Mary L. Smalley Tjossem - November 27, 1976
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - December 2, 2012
David Griffiths Wood died November 26, 2012, in Palm Desert,
CA, a short time after suffering a massive stroke.
His step-children, Sarah Farrar, John Tjossem and Martha Tjossem,
and granddaughter, Mary Sweeney, were with him during his final
days. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary L. Wood, and his
brother Raymond Perry Wood II, MD, both within the past 16
months, and his step-son, David Tjossem. His own health declined
over that time but he was still actively working as Chairman of the
Board at the Citizens State Bank and President of the Harry A. Lowe
Agency until leaving for California about a week before his trauma.
In addition to his step-children he is survived by grandchildren, Andrew
Farrar, Brian and Mary Sweeney, Hannah and Jeremiah Tjossem
and their parents, Drew and Barb Cleland, daughter-in-law ,
Margaret Tjossem and various cousins in both Colorado and California.
Dave was born in Whittier, CA, on March 1, 1931, the first son of
Blossom Griffiths Wood and Raymond Perry Wood. The Wood
family returned to Colorado, where they lived in Canon City, Gunnison
and Grand Junction. Dave attended Grand Junction High
School and then the University of Colorado at Boulder where in
1953, he earned a B.A. Degree in Business. He then served two
years in the Army after which he attended law school at the University
of Colorado.
During the summer of 1949, he worked as an usher at the Central
City Opera and came to truly love opera and continued to enjoy annual
trips to both Central City and the Sante Fe Operas. He was interested
and knowledgeable about the history of Western Colorado,
the mining and ranching industries and knew the business of the area
and the people who settled it.
In 1956, Dave was employed at the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) as an Assistant Bank Examiner working in the
States of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Dave resigned from the FDIC in 1961 and moved to Ouray, where
he went to work for the Citizens State Bank of Ouray. At the time he
lived in the little square house behind Al's Service Station. Over the
years he served in various officer positions and ultimately acquired
control of the bank with the departure of Harry and Margo Lowe.
Over the span of his 51-year career at Citizens State Bank, Dave's
dedication, commitment and generosity to his family, employees
and the community was felt and appreciated.
Dave and Mary L. Smalley Tjossem married on November 27,
1976, at Mary's home on Oak Street. They lived in the apartment
over the bank while the old Franz home they bought on 4th Street
was renovated. They moved into that home in 1981, and it remained
their home until their respective deaths. They enjoyed entertaining
both friends and family in the warm, elegant and generous style for
which they will be remembered. Dave enjoyed the arts, music,
travelling and cooking. He was a fabulous cook and a founding
member of a fraternal cooking club of friends, established for the
sole purpose of enjoying great cuisine and travelling the world to
find it. Dave and Mary both loved and supported the Artists Alpine
Holiday annual art show and were honored for lifetime support. He
worked on many committees, supporting the beautification of Ouray
and many cultural organizations events. His generous support to so
many local groups and actions will be remembered.
He enjoyed Jeeping in the high country of Colorado and spending
time fishing and relaxing at his family's century old "camp" on the
Taylor River near Almont, CO. He appreciated 19th century
furniture and renovated the bank with integrity to its original period
and design. He loved interior design, renovating and furnishing the
Benson Building in Silverton plus the home on 4th Street in Ouray.
He was an astute money manager, reading the Wall Street Journal
and watching the Nightly Business Report, keeping up with the
stock market daily. He never lost interest or knowledge in current
economic conditions and was constantly evaluating and monitoring
investments, hoping to teach his family and customers good
investment and money management practices.
Dave's influence reached deeply into the community and he will be
missed.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 8, at 11:00
a.m. at the Ouray Community Center, San Juan Room.
Contributions to the David G. Wood Memorial Fund may be made
at the Citizens State Bank of Ouray. The fund will support charities
he supported in his lifetime.
