July 4, 1946 – December 31, 2020. Resident of Soquel, Pamela Louise Wood, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend to countless others passed away peacefully on New Year’s Eve. She was 74 years old. Though born in Seattle, Pam and her parents Thomas Giles and Mildred (Teeter) Giles moved soon thereafter to Salem, Oregon where Pam and her sister Barbara grew up. Following high school, Pam enrolled at Oregon State University and graduated with a degree in elementary school education. While at Oregon State, after reluctantly agreeing to go on a blind date, she met the person who was to become the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Wood. Soon after their wedding in June of 1968, the young couple moved to Kennolyn Camp in Soquel where for several years they directed summer programs and taught during the school year. Eventually they built a home on property purchased from the camp and enjoyed the next forty years living in the mountains and raising their family. Pam started teaching special education at Soquel Elementary School in 1969. After two years she moved to Santa Cruz City Schools where she completed her thirty year career. Pam was beloved by her students and colleagues. She was known for her kind, gentle and patient approach while helping students with learning disabilities overcome their obstacles. Pam and Dick filled their early retirement years with overseas travel, exploring the western states in their motorhome, camping with friends and family, and delighting in the expansion of their family through the marriages of their two children, Erica to Brian (Ganz) and Jeff to Robyn (Ewing). The greatest blessings then began with the arrival over the next few year of five granddaughters, Bella Ganz, Gigi Ganz, Sydney Wood, Hayden Wood and Brynn Wood. These truly were the golden years until Pam’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease began to change life. For these past four years Pam resided at Aegis of Aptos where she received warm and loving care from their wonderful staff, and during the final two weeks of her life, from the staff of Hospice of Santa Cruz County, as well. Arrangements for a celebratory memorial will be postponed until late summer/early fall of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebration of Pam’s life will be held at Aptos United Methodist Church where she and Dick have been members for the past fifty years. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Associate in Pam’s memory. We must defeat this disease!