Fallen Soldier's Passion, Memory Kept Alive Through Scholarship

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- Nearly three years ago, an Oklahoma soldier died on the frontlines fighting for our freedom. Saturday, a fundraiser took place to remember the Edmond hometown hero.

Candice Bunze could describe her little brother Sgt. Ryan Wood down to a tee.

"I'm very close to all of my siblings, and to lose one of them was very devastating," said Candice Bunze," Wood's sister. "I don't have a dictionary big enough to describe my brother. He was funny and witty and had the best sense of humor. The best laugh you'll ever hear in your life."

Sgt. Wood was killed in Iraq by an IED near his Humvee in June 2007. The pain for his family is still there, but Saturday they celebrated his life and his passion with a scholarship.

"It helps carry on what Ryan always wanted to do is art," Bunze said.

Wood was an accomplished artist and was admitted to UCO two weeks before his death. Now an annual golf fundraiser in his honor continues to help art students like Laura Reed.

"I feel very blessed to have it because it's a really big connection for me because he was an artist. It's just really a big blessing," Reed said.

A blessing she said that is a reminder of the freedom that is often taken for granted, and what Sgt. Wood fought for.

"For me it means I can draw whatever I want, and no one can take that away from me," Reed said.

One of the Wood's brothers-in-arms, Mark Hicks, drove over 20 hours to be there for the hometown hero he described as selfless.

"He'd do anything for soldiers. He took care of all his friends, in of uniform, out of uniform," Hicks said.

The fundraiser was a reunion of sort, keeping the memory alive for a hometown hero who'll sorely be missed.

"We have all his brothers-in-arms here and family from other fallen soldiers. Some came as far as Minnesota just to be here for this one day event, so it's an honor to have these family and friends here with us," Bunze said.

The golf tournament is in its third year, and so far has raised over $25,000 for the Ryan Wood Foundation Scholarship.