Dean R. Wood

Dean R. Wood, born on March 18, 1973, in Bridgeton, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on September 15, 2025.

Dean was 52 years young with a beautiful soul that is difficult to adequately describe with mere words. Dean was larger than life, a living legend, who didn’t know a stranger. He will be remembered for his way of connecting with everyone he met on a level that made you feel important, for his infinite generosity and spirit of community.

He was a true family man and is survived by his wife Amy (nee Thomas), daughter Alex, son Devon (Felicia), grandson Dean, mother Donna Brunner (nee Horner), brother Warren (Stefanie); sisters Sheri Calabrese (Skip), Pam (Jay), Donna Burgmann (Skip); father-in-law Jesse Thomas (Darlene); mother-in-law Linda Messer; brother-in-law Jesse Thomas; sisters-in-law Rachel Thomas, Shana Pew (Chris) and Tammy Hoyle (Erik) and his many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by his father Warren Wood, brother Michael Wood, stepfather Greg Brunner, father-in-law Lew Messer and brother-in-law Ronnie Hoyle.

Dean graduated from Maranatha Baptist School in Millville, NJ. Dean was a hard worker starting with jobs early on as a dishwasher at Tinker’s Seafood in Bridgeton; short order cook at Bridgetowne Restaurant in Bridgeton; vendor delivery for K&R Vending in Bridgeton; contractor for USDA. Dean also spent 5 years as a dedicated volunteer with the Bridgeton Emergency Ambulance Association during this time. Dean also spent 13 years working in the glass industry with a stint at Anchor Glass in Salem and majority of the time at Leone’s in Bridgeton. During these years, Dean’s entrepreneurial spirit developed. He found a way to harness that in conjunction with his immense network and started his first business, D&M Discount Fuels LLC in 2011 which later incorporated Crispin Oil and Best Fuels. He then started Simple Trucking LLC, freight transportation, in 2020. In 2022, he purchased the Alloway Village Inn and turned it into Dirty Jersey Tavern, a place where everyone was not only made to feel welcome but also a place where contagious smiles and laughs and memories are made. Dean was a true visionary with a passion that could not be contained. There was nothing he couldn’t do once he decided to. Dean loved pulling pranks and being a jokester every chance he got and no one had immunity from that. His passion was people and everyone that knew Dean loved him. He was truly one of a kind and his spirit was so generous, both personally and business- wise, and inclusive that everyone wanted to be around him. Dean was an avid hunter, fisherman and he loved being on the water any chance he got.

Friends and family will be received at Woodside Funeral Home, 613 Salem Quinton Rd., Salem, NJ (located in Quinton Twp.) on Tuesday, September 23rd From 4:00 to 8:00 pm with a service to be held at 8:00 pm.
 

Details regarding Dean’s Celebration of Life will be shared separately. In lieu of flowers and in line with Dean’s community loving spirit of giving, the family will announce a lasting living tribute in the near future.

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