Horace James O'Dell, 95, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. He was born on January 26, 1922 to Millard Filmore O'Dell and Sarah Jane Parks O'Dell in Hanging Dog, NC. Horace was preceded in death by sisters, Josephine (Jack) Long, Janice (Wayne) Palmer, Alma (Pat) Hamilton; brothers, Howard (Stella), Homer, and Roscoe (Bonnie) (Vanna); and son, David Conrad O'Dell. He is survived by his brother Charles (Helen). He had many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Horace served in the Army on the front lines during World War II in the European theater, protecting our country. After the war, he married Georgia Lee Hayes. They had eight children: daughters, Alice Kathleen O'Dell (Paul) Dean, Marlene Nancy O'Dell (Richard Lyons) (Glen Vadnais) Vadnais, Barbara Ann Bradley, Mary Lee O'Dell (Randy Redden) (James Janson) Janson, Dorothy Lynn O'Dell (Scott) Hicks; sons, Sam Horace (Brenda) O'Dell, Winston Tom, and David Conrad.
His grandchildren were Elizabeth Dean (Ernest) Macnab, Abbie Dean (Scott) Renaud, Shari Dean (Daniel) Wright, Julie Lyons (Jeff) Bricker, Meredith Lyons, Adam (Rachel) Redden, Christopher (Allison) Redden, Brett (Julie) Redden, Suzie Redden (Craig) Boneau; Tamra Bradley (Matthew) Abbott, Becky Bradley (John) Bonenberger, Heather Bradley, Tim Bradley; Sarah Hicks (Kristian) Kastelic, Mary Hicks, Aaron (Martha) Hicks, Paul (Mindy) Hicks, Jason O'Dell, Jacqueline and David O'Dell.
His great-grandchildren include Colin, Alisa, Alana and Chase Macnab; Matthew, Christopher, Maggie and Mollie Renaud; Michael, Rachel, Laura, Jonathan, Emily, Leah and Simon Wright; Owen and Audrey Bricker; Siara (Robert) Pikney, Ashlynn (Marvin) Alas, Julien (Lucero) Milbry, and Jesse (Abby) Milbry; Samantha and Brett Bonenberger; Tim, Kaitlyn and Cheyenne Bradley; 4 children of Heather Bradley; Jordan and Cameron Redden; Jacob, Jeremy and Meribeth Redden; Camden, Elly and Zoey Redden; Archer and Haven Boneau; Victoria and Alexander Hicks; and Maya and Ben Hicks.
Great-great grandchildren include Benji and Cooper Macnab, Paige Macnab, Rainy and Paisley Macnab; Marvin Jr, Adelyn and Sebastian Alas; Nayeli Milbry and Aaliyah Milbry.
Horace lived in the Akron, Ohio area for more than 60 years. He worked as a welder and retired from General Motors, Terex division. He was an avid gardener, planting gardens until he was in his 90s and loved to ride on his lawn mower cutting his grass.
The family of Horace would like to thank the caregivers at Sunrise Senior Living and the wonderful staff at Harbor Light Hospice for their care.
Visitation will be held from 12-1pm on Monday, January 22, 2018 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Rd., Akron. Funeral service will begin at 1pm. Interment at Hillside Memorial Park to follow.
To share a memory of Horace, please sign the guest book below.