Inis Thelma Sikorski

Inis Thelma Kinder Wood Sikorski, transitioned to be with our Lord on Friday, November 22, 2013. She was surrounded with love by her family. A native of West Virginia that lived in Connecticut for 59 years and in May of 2009 moved back to WV and last resided in Dunbar. Inis loved and missed her friends at Bella Vista – she loved watching Bocci Ball, going to lunch with her friends and visiting with Gloria DeLeonardo, Glenna Dotson, Elsie Kirk and Dorothy Stewart. She always spoke fondly of her church families at the Whitney Avenue Church of Christ in Hamden, CT where she was a member for over 50 years and enjoyed fellowship with Pastor Nelson and friends at the Heritage Baptist Church at Bella Vista. Inis became a member of the Nitro, WV Church of Christ in 2009.

Inis was widowed twice. She was married to her first husband and children’s father John W. Wood (J.W.) for 28 years – J.W. passed on February 11, 1976. The couple had four children, Jerry Elmer Wood of Troy, Michigan (Robin) - Jerry passed on April 4, 2006; Glenna Wood Ferris (David) who lives in Charlotte, Maine – Glenna passed on June 23, 2013; Curtiss Richard Wood who lives in Nitro, WV and John W. Wood, 2nd who lives in Dunbar, WV.

Inis was married to Frank Sikorski for 15 years when he passed in 1985. Inis’ children and grandchildren loved him dearly. The grandchildren called him, “Papa Frank.” Frank was a wonderful man he has a special place in our hearts – he had a nickname for all the children and grandchildren.

Inis was blessed with seven grandchildren: Mary Wood Spicak and Nicholas R. Wood (Jerry’s children) Lora Stewart-Girimonte (Glenna’s daughter); Lisa Wood Bartlett (Curtiss’ daughter) (Lisa passed on November 29, 2000); Natalie Wood Beck, John W. Wood III and Kenneth S. Wood (John’s children).

Inis was also blessed with seven great grandchildren Robert Spisak and Christina Spisak Dahl (Mary’s children); Brittani and Lindsay Girimonte (Lora’s daughters); Emily Beck (Natalie’s daughter); Shania and Kayla Bartlett (Lisa’s daughters). Inis had one great-great granddaughter, Sage Wood (John’s daughter) and she was also very fond of her many nieces and nephews.


Inis was the fifth of nine children born to Ira Monroe Kinder and Mary Gracie Sabella Adkins Kinder. She was born at Peytona, WV at 4:00 PM on January 12, 1922. She is survived by three sisters: Emma Kinder LaFata (Charles) of Baltimore, Maryland; Shirley Kinder Bowling of Nellis, WV and Patricia Kinder Lushbaugh (Kerry) of Shady Springs, WV. Inis is predeceased by five siblings: Sybil Wickware; George (Tom) Kinder; Herbert Kinder, SR; Ira (Brother) Kinder and Julia Kinder Farley.

When Inis first moved to Connecticut she started working at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Dietary Department. She continued working there for 25 ½ years before she retired in 1985. Inis’ favorite things to do were to work her, “puzzle book” (find a word), read and cook. Glenna, Curtiss and John especially remembers their Mom putting an extra cover on all of us children in the middle of the night when it got cold and of her getting up at 4:30 AM each morning – making a coal stove fire and making us homemade breakfast – biscuits, gravy, pancakes, home made syrup, and some Sunday’s Glenna talked her into making her favorite – raisin pie. We are surely going to miss this Grand Lady, our Mother and precious angel.

Calling hours will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at Handley Funeral Home 439 Phipps Ave. Danville, WV and a service will be held thereafter at 11:00 AM at the Funeral Home. The officiating Minister will be Richard Runyon. Burial will immediately follow in the Garden of Christus at Memory Gardens, Logap, WV. Donations may be made to the Nitro Church of Christ 20 Main Ave., Nitro, WV 25143 in memory of Inis.