Imogene Wood, Past Leader of CWA Retirees, Dies at 93

Imogene Wood, a career telephone worker who was a founding officer of the national CWA Retired Members' Council, died of cancer Oct. 23 at a Washington, D.C., hospital. She was 93.

Born in New Hampshire, Wood came to Washington in 1935 as a governess for the children of Sen. Henry Keyes (R-N.H.). She was hired by C&P Telephone in 1942 as an operator and worked until 1979, retiring as a service observer.

A former vice president of CWA Local 2300, Wood remained active in the union long after retiring. For many years she served as president of CWA's Washington Metro Retiree Chapter. She also helped found the national CWA Retired Members' Council and served as council vice president in District 2 from 1988 to 2002. She lobbied on behalf of retirees and helped CWA raise money for COPE to support all workers and retirees.

She is survived by a son, Ernest Wood, of Indiana, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.