Kenneth (Popeye) Eugene Wood
January 31, 1952 – May 27, 2022
Ken grew up in Front Royal, VA and from an early age recognized the importance of hard work. He became a ‘jack of all trades’ through his experience in everything from managing retail, to service and maintenance. He found his niche when he started working in the heating and oil industry.
In 2009, together with his wife, Joye, he started his own business, Kenny’s Oil Burner Service & Cleaning. His passion to continue helping those that he had built rapport with over the years, without the constraints that came along with larger corporations, helped him amass many loyal customers and a thriving business.
Ken also dedicated 30 years of volunteer service to the Warren County Fair, and was awarded with a Lifetime Membership in 2004. He was also an organ donor.
Anyone that had the pleasure of meeting Ken would tell you that he always had a smile on his face, and a great story or joke prepared to brighten the day of anyone he came across. He loved his family immensely and spending time with his children and grandchildren brought him the greatest joy.
He also loved his Handy Mart#11 family. We appreciate the many years of friendship that you have all provided Ken. Thank you for being another source of happiness in his life.
Ken is survived by his wife, Joye Wood; his daughters, Sarah Hallman, Jennifer Wood, and Kayla Brown; step-son, Kenneth Surratt; grandchildren, Samantha Vaughan, Daniel Hallman, Breanna Grady, Aiden Wood, Gwenyth Brown, Gabriella Brown, Clinton Surratt, Michael Surratt, and Ella Joye Surratt; his siblings, Sandy (Petie) Wood, Donna Gardner, Sandra Wilson, and Leisa Wood; brother in-law, Fred Kidwell; and close family friends, Julie Strickland and Buddy Peacoe.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Imogene Stoneberger and Leonard R. Wood; his siblings, Charles, Roy, Wayne, and Jimmy Wood, Sarah (Perky) Canard, Shelby Henry, Judy Lillard; and sister-in-law, Edna Kidwell.
The family will receive friends 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 at Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal, VA. A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. with The Reverend Leah DeLong officiating. Inurnment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Warren County Fair, P.O. Box 1555, Front Royal, VA 22630 or by sharing your fondest memory of Ken via note or card.
“You can shed tears that he is gone,
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him only that he is gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what he’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.” -David Harkins”
We love you, Dad ❤️❤️
My grandfather had some cows he owned and when they would get out Popeye and some of his brothers would help him round them up my sympathy to the family and I also was a friend of Sandra
To the family of Popeye Wood I knew Popeye since I was a child .We lived next door to each other on Short Street in Front Royal.He was a great guy and a friend always joking around with everyone.So sorry for the loss of a good friend. May he Rest In Peace .
Sending prayers he will be missed alot.
Sending prayers thinking of you all he will be missed.
Sending prayers to all the family. He will be missed by so many people.
Deepest sympathy to the family. He will be sorely missed. When he left H N Funkhouser, my husband and I asked him to service our furnace and he was so diligent to come whenever we needed him. After my husband passed away, he showed me things to do that I had never had to deal with. He was always so gracious, kind and pleasant.
We are so sorry for your loss. Kenny was a great guy and fun to be around. He cleaned our oil burner years and it was a pleasure. He did great work and was always here at the time he said he would. He will be greatly missed.. Prayers for you and your family
We were loyal customers of Ken. He worked his magic on our furnace several times. Prayers for your family. The Livermore family
So shocked to learn of the passing of kenny he installed the heating system in my home in 1985 along with Eddie Morrison a hot water system he maintained i found his notice by accident i hardly know where to turn now