Robert Brittian Odom

Family mass for Robert Brittian Odom, age 70, of Rusk are scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, July 27, 2007 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rev. Stephen Duyka officiating. Following the family mass, a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 27, 2007 in First Baptist Church Rusk with Rev. Don Copeland and Rev. Stephen Duyka officiating. Masonic and military graveside rites will follow in Pleasant Grove Cemetery under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk.

Mr. Odom died July 18, 2007 in Reno, Nevada at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born August 7, 1936 at home in Maydelle to the late Walter and Annie Thelma Meador Odom.

He graduated from Dialville High School in 1954. He served in the U. S. Army from 1954 to 1962 in ESP 3 Class. He retired from Southwestern Electric Service Company after twenty years of service. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rusk.

Mr. Odom had many other accomplishments such as being the Rusk Citizen of the Year in 1993 and in 1986 he was the Rusk Fireman of the Year. He was a member of the Rusk Euclid Masonic Lodge #45 AFAM for 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Annie Thelma Meador Odom and sister Sue Pittilo. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Dana Shannon Odom; children, including Dennis Brittian Odom, Catherine Odom Sampson, Mark Finley Odom, Robert Wade Odom, Ann Marlene Odom Willis; sons-in-law and daughter-in-law Mikal Sampson, Amy Odom, Ched Willis; grandchildren, Luke, Johnny, Mark, and Matthew Sampson, Britt, Chase, Julie, Randall, and Emily Odom, Gabriela and Joshua Willis; three nieces, two nephews, six great nieces, seven great nephews, one great-great niece, and many other cousins.

Pallbearers will include Mark Odom, Wade Odom, Ched Willis, Luke Sampson, Randall Odom, and Britt Odom. Honorary pallbearers will be David Black, Max Thomason, Tommy Matthews, Mikal Sampson, Joe Mack Fulton, Randy Rasberry, Sammy Chapman, John Dean Chapman, Raymond Vermillion, Carlton Jones, Malcolm Hanson, James Long, Gary Meador, Billy Lovelady, Ewell Newman, James Campbell, Horace Oden, Richard Oden, and Jerry Oden.

Family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at the funeral home. A vigil service will be Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 8 p.m. at the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home Chapel. If desired, memorials can be made to the Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Balitmore, Maryland, 21298-9664, St. Judes Childrens Hospital, PO Box 2132, Memphis, Tennessee, 38101, and Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550, Attn. Administration.

Information from The Jacksonville Daily Progress