Obituaries

Jesse Wood Jr.Navy Pilot

Jesse Wood Jr., 83, a retired Navy captain and aviator and civilian real estate manager for the Army, died Dec. 13 at his home in Springfield after a heart attack.

Capt. Wood flew photo reconnaissance for the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini Atoll in 1946, flying the plane that went nearest the first explosion, nicknamed "Able." The work earned him an Air Medal. He later flew conventional and jet fighters, bombers, helicopters, transports and anti-submarine warfare planes.

He was born in Fairmont, W.Va., and joined the Navy during World War II. He served mostly aboard a torpedo squadron replacement unit on an escort aircraft carrier. After the atomic bomb experiments, he left the Navy and graduated from Northwestern University.

Capt. Wood volunteered to return to service during the Korean War and stayed in the Navy until 1969, when he retired. He arrived in Alexandria in 1964 in command of Naval Personnel Programs Support Activity at the Navy Yard.

In 1970, he became a real estate agent and manager for Routh Robbins real estate brokerage in Vienna and taught classes of new agents.

In 1975, he took the job of chief of the Army's real estate acquisition branch at Fort Bliss, Tex., where he was responsible for managing 1.5 million acres and 5,600 buildings and structures. He retired again in 1984, remaining in El Paso until 1995, when he moved to Southern Pines, N.C., and later to Alexandria.

Capt. Wood was a member of the Retired Officers Association, Tailhook Association, the Order of Daedalians, the Ancient and Secret Order of Quiet Birdmen, the National Rifle Association and the Elks.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Virginia Wood of Springfield; two children, David Wood of Coronado, Calif., and Sally Vaquero of Alexandria; and two grandsons.

Minnie Brown BarrettHomemaker

Minnie Brown Barrett, 94, a Warrenton native who worked several part-time jobs but mostly was a homemaker, died Dec. 25 at her home in Fairfax Station. She had heart disease and dementia.

Mrs. Barrett enjoyed shopping and playing bingo.

Her husband, Preston W. Barrett, died in 1973.

Survivors include three children, Bill Barrett of Alpharetta, Ga., Linda Koslin of Fairfax Station and John Barrett of Walsenburg, Colo.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.