Activist passes away after serving the community for 17 years

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Caring, loving, and brilliant. Just a few words Sharon Wood's colleagues and friends use to describe her.

"She loved her employees, she loved the clientele. I don't know of anyone she didn't care about," Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette Program Director Cheryl Ubelhor said about her mentor.

Wood passed away Monday at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette.

While still in college Ubelhor met the woman she would later call her mentor. After working with Wood for a year at Area IV, Ubelhor said Wood taught her important life lessons she still uses today. One of those lessons is to always have a sense of humor.

"Not to get upset, not to worry, just back up think about how we're going to make it happen and try again and just keep at it and not give up. She was a wonderful advocate," Ubelhor said.

Wood served the community through various programs before retiring as executive director of Area IV in October after being diagnosed with leukemia.

As the director Wood helped provide loans to local businesses, helped people register to vote, and passed out Farmers Market vouchers to senior citizens. Another project Wood was passionate about was the Area IV Senior Games. In June she spoke to News 18 about the event.

"We really are trying to make sure that we contribute to the wellness of our communities and by doing that these activities are really many different levels of physical activity so there's something from everybody," Wood said in an interview with News 18 last June.

Rick Blank is serving as the interim Executive Director and said Wood always saw the best in the people she met.

"The big thing Sharon did was she looked for the good in people and then tried to bring it out," Blank said.

Because she was here, Blank said we're all better for it.

"County, city, country, world is better off for her being here because of the effects of the way she lived and the way she tried to help people," Blank said about his former colleague.

Area IV is continuing to look for a new executive director.

Funeral services for Wood where held Wednesday in West Lafayette.