Agnes Wood (Spink) (Germunson)
Agnes Jeanette Wood, 86, of Longview, passed away Sep. 8, 2024, at home in Longview.
She was born Feb. 6, 1938, in Baudette, Mn., to Arvid and Ivel (Elizabeth Hamilton) Germunson. The family moved to Kelso from Minnesota in 1941, and Agnes graduated from Kelso High School in 1956.
After high school, Agnes worked at Longview Fibre Co. as a bookkeeper. She married Garland Spink in 1959 in Longview, WA.
In 1960, Garland and she moved to California to enjoy dryer weather. There she continued work as a bookkeeper with various companies including Santa Barbara School District and Columbia Records. They lived in Carpenteria and Santa Maria, CA where they grew their family. Derek Lynn Spink was adopted in 1967, Trevor Martin Spink was born in 1968 and Marcus Wayne Spink born in 1970. In California, they joined the Porsche Club of America, enjoyed meeting new people and participated in Porsche rallies and car shows. She developed some long-term friendships from some of these relationships.
In 1976, they moved to Kelso Washington for a business opportunity, where she worked alongside Garland at Wolters Auto Center, later becoming Auto Center, Inc. in Longview WA. She raised her family in Kelso where she enjoyed attending her boy’s activities and Kelso High School football games.
She moved to Longview from Kelso in 1989 with a house near Lake Sacajawea.
In 1993, she and Garland divorced. Agnes worked at Auto Center, Inc for a while longer and then as a bookkeeper for Chuck’s Auto Glass for about 10 years before retiring.
Agnes re-met a friend from high school, Ken Wood, in 1997. They then married in 1999. Agnes and Ken participated in many outdoor activities joining the local hiking club (Mt St Helens Club), golfing, gardening and some canoeing. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Often, they would go to casinos and Agnes would play the penny slot machines.
Agnes was an active lady and competitive in many sport and social activities. After watching many soccer games of her youngest son, she took up the game of soccer in a women’s soccer league in the mid-1980s. She played with determination and grit even with her small stature of 4 feet 11 inches! She played soccer for several years and took up bowling and golf on a regular basis. She loved golf and was quite good, playing regularly at Three Rivers Golf and Mint Valley golf courses. She was named most improved golfer in 1998 and 2010 with Three Rivers Ladies Golf Association. She also had six hole-in-ones there from the years 1997 to 2012!
In her later years, Agnes took up the game of Bridge and it became her last passion. When asked about what she liked the most about Bridge, she said, “The people.”
Agnes was family-oriented, giving and helpful. She was an excellent cook, baker and hostess. She hosted many holiday dinners where her calm demeanor and organization of large gatherings was commendable. Agnes was also very talented with crocheting and quilting. She made quilts of excellent quality for her sons, grandsons and for her house décor.
Agnes battled Mesothelioma for her last year of her life. Special thanks to Home Health and PeaceHealth Hospice nurses and representatives that helped Agnes during the difficult period.
Agnes is survived by her husband, Ken Wood of Longview; sons Derek Spink of Kelso, and Marcus Spink (Dana) of Newport, Ore.; sister Wanda Biel of Vancouver, Wash., brother Dorrell (Faye) Germunson of Castle Rock, WA; grandsons Jakob, Kolby and Brock Spink, all of Newport.
A brother, Duane Germunson (1975), and son, Trevor Spink (2020) preceded her in death, as did her parents – Arvid (1976) and Ivel (2003).
A celebration of life with lunch will be held from 11-12:30 p.m. Sep 21 at the Longview Women’s Club.