Mildred Hope Fisher Wood passed away peacefully on July 6, 2014. Mildred was born April 19, 1920, in Alta, to Jessie and Hazel David Fisher. She spent her childhood on a number of small farms along the Des Moines River. She recalled well the challenges of growing up during the Depression years. After graduating from Humboldt High School in 1937, she attended Iowa State Teachers College, where she met William O. Wood on the first day. They were married on June 23, 1940, in Renwick. She began her teaching career as a first- and second-grade teacher in the Rowley Consolidated School System in 1939-1940. Mildred pursued her education by earning a B. A. degree in 1956, a master's degree in 1962, an Ed. S. degree in 1963, all from State College of Iowa; did postgraduate work at Syracuse University and the University of Oregon; and obtained her Doctorate of Education from the University of Indiana in 1970. She was a pioneer educator in the field of learning disabilities, an instructor of Special Education and Child Psychology at State College of Iowa, adjunct instructor in Learning Disabilities at University of Northern Iowa, and Educational Consultant for Black Hawk County. She wrote a column for the Waterloo Courier titled "Parents and Learning Disabilities." In addition, she was an artist, author, and poet. Her professional recognitions included: appointment to the Governor's Task Force on Education; recipient of the highest honor bestowed by the Commission of Persons with Disabilities for significantly enhancing the empowerment and employment of individuals with disabilities; recipient of "The President's Award" from the Iowa Association for Children and Youth with Learning Disabilities; induction into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2011; and the recipient of the 2012 UNI Outstanding Alumnus Award. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie Fisher and Hazel Beatty; her sister, Dorothy Mae Fisher; and her husband of forty-two years, William O. Wood. Left behind to treasure the gift of her life are sons Larry A. (Paulette) Wood of Windsor Heights and Donald D. (Barbara) Wood of Cedar Falls; grandsons Ross A. Wood and Steven D. (Annette) Wood, both of Des Moines, and Ashton R. Bellah of Ames; and a sister, Donna Marilyn (J. Preston) Cole of Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church, 2015 Rainbow Drive, Cedar Falls, with the memorial service at 11 a.m. Graveside services will follow the funeral and luncheon at Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be designated at a later date. Online condolences and photos may be expressed at www.richardsonfuneralservice.com(link is external) Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded July 8, 2014.
