The year was 1975 when Randy Wood arrived in Whitney, Texas. He stayed for five decades. On April 20, 2026, he died at 84. The town he had adopted as home now marks his loss with stories and memories.
Randy was born on March 8, 1942. His parents were William H. Wood and Juanita V. Middlebrook Wood. He grew up learning that work was not a punishment but a privilege. That lesson stayed with him.
Once settled in Whitney, he and his family opened B&W Grocery in the downtown area. They ran it with honesty and a focus on customer needs. In 1983, they bought Kountry Grocery from Bush’s Grocery. The store became more than a place to buy milk and bread. Neighbors gathered there. People asked Randy for advice. He knew everyone’s name.
Even after stepping back from the grocery business, he did not stop working. He took part time jobs at R&C Machine and Lonestar Stone. Colleagues there say he never complained. He showed up on time. He helped younger workers learn the trade. His work ethic did not fade with age.
The family held a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The location was Open Range Cowboy Church in Whitney. The setting fit him. He was not a fancy man. He appreciated plain talk and honest handshakes.
Randy leaves behind his family and a long list of Whitney residents who will remember him as the face behind the grocery counter. The businesses he helped build are still standing. The relationships he formed are still warm. Small towns like Whitney do not forget people like Randy Wood. They talk about them for years. They measure other men against the example he set.
