Dr. Doreen Anderson Wood, 95, died on April 16th, 2023, having lived a long life filled with service to others. She was born in Tulsa on September 20, 1927, to recent immigrants, Ernest and Doris Anderson, who had settled in Tulsa in 1926 from County Durham, England. Doreen's life was profoundly shaped by her parents and the English heritage and traditions instilled in both their daughters. Doreen's father, Ernie, had been apprenticed as a cabinetmaker in the shipyards of Sunderland, England. In Tulsa, he established the Anderson Furniture Company, making fine custom furniture. Many pieces of furniture made by Ernie were a part of her home.

The Episcopal Church played a significant role in Doreen's life, reflecting compassion and community service. Doreen was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Church, Tulsa, and later was actively involved in St. Mark's, St. Matthew's, St. Aidan's, and St. Luke's churches in Tulsa. When Doreen's father became an Episcopal priest later in his life, serving for many years as vicar of St. Matthew's, Sand Springs, Doreen and her mother, Doris, were very active members in all aspects of the church community. At the same time, Doreen remained active at Trinity, serving both as lay reader and as Eucharistic Lay Minister.

A 1945 graduate of Tulsa Central High School, Doreen went on to Tulsa University on a full scholarship, where she earned a BA in Music and Drama. When TU's new radio station first started broadcasting in 1945, Doreen worked as a librarian for the station and also had a singing program that aired weekly. Both Doreen and her sister, Joyce, were later members of KWGS's prestigious radio choir. Doreen was also was featured in Tulsa Opera's very first performances when it presented La Traviata in 1948 as the newly formed Tulsa Opera Club. Throughout her life, Doreen sang professionally, as a church soloist, and with the Tulsa Opera and the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus. Doreen went on to earn both an MA and a PhD in English from TU. While working on her PhD she encouraged the TU English Department to hire its first Black English faculty member, her friend Dr. Cecelia Palmer.

In 1950, Doreen married journalist and Tulsa World reporter Tom Wood and they adopted 2 children. When her marriage dissolved in the late 60's, she and her children shared the home of her parents, while she continued her work teaching and in the church.

A firm believer in social justice and civil rights, Doreen worked to integrate vacation bible schools in the late 60's, a time when the coming together of different races in the same church, was against the cultural norms. She was also a strong proponent for women's rights and in the early 1970's worked tirelessly in efforts to allow women to have voting rights at the Episcopal church general convention. Doreen was also a vocal advocate for the ordination of women into the priesthood. Doreen was very involved in the Episcopal AIDS ministry and the Interfaith AIDS ministry in the 1980's and 90's, helping to serve and create a better understanding of the LBGTQ community in the area.

Doreen was a gifted teacher and inspired many students over her lengthy teaching career, which included Tulsa Public Schools, Monte Cassino School, Arkansas State University, Oral Roberts University, and Tulsa Community College. She had a particular impact while leading students on study tours in England and Scotland, including courses at the University of Durham, Aberdeen University and St. Augustine's College, Canterbury.

She was a noted scholar on the works of C.S. Lewis, and 20th century African American literature.

Over the years she published and presented papers to the New York C.S. Lewis Society, the South-Central Modern Language Association, as well as hosting and hosted an annual C.S. Lewis birthday party at her home every year. Doreen also had a extensive collection of African American literature, which she donated to Rudisill library when she left her home.

Doreen will be remembered for her beautiful voice, her love of literature and teaching, and especially for her dry sense of humor, and quick wit. In her nineties, when asked what she would like to drink with a meal (even breakfast!), her standard reply was "I'll have a gin and tonic."

Doreen and her family received overwhelming support during the last year of her life, from family and friends near and far. Her family would especially like to thank caregivers Dana Mack, Christie Mendez, Amy Jones and Dixie Rodriguez, Miller Hospice, Fr. John Rule, Oklahoma Memory Care Institute, and too many others to name. Her son John is grateful to Doreen's niece, Elizabeth Berntson for her tireless efforts as her companion and advocate during her final years. Elizabeth's love, compassion and advocacy for her aunt was a true act of love that shines on during this time of grief.

Doreen was preceded in death by her parents, Doris and Ernest Anderson, her son, Tommy Wood, her daughter-in-law, Loretta Wood, and her sister, Joyce Anderson Jackson.

Doreen is survived by her son John (Deb) Wood of Bloomington, MN, her nephews and nieces, David Jackson (Robin) of Austin, TX, Peter Jackson (Megan) of Cambridge, WI, Elizabeth Berntson (David) of Tulsa, OK, Margaret Connolly (Jack) of Denver, CO, 3 grandchildren, and many great nephews and great nieces.

Funeral services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Tulsa, on Thursday, May 25th at 2pm. Her ashes will be interred in the Trinity Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Friends of Rudisill Library, 1520 N. Harford Ave, Tulsa, OK 74106, the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E 4th St, Tulsa, OK 74120, or Iron Gate Community Meal Program, 501 W. Archer Street, Tulsa, OK 74103.