OBITUARY

Name:    Buford Ora Odom

From:  The Evansville Courier, Evansville, Indiana
Date:  Saturday, March 31, 2007

Buford "Bill" Ora Odom, 81, of Evansville, formerly lived on Lynnville Lake in Lynnville, Ind., died Thursday, March 29, 2007, at West Park Rehabilitation Center.

Bill was born in Haralson County, Ga., in 1925 to Charlie and Odessa Odom.

He served in the Navy and Naval Reserves during World War II and the Korean War.

Bill served on the Evansville Fire Department for 25 years and retired in 1978.  He worked for his father-in-law, Albert Ulsas, as a meat cutter at the Empire Market and Annex, for Jerry's Market, and Wesselman's.  Bill operated the Waffle Basket restaurant in Owensboro, Ky.

He was a member of the former First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife were married.  Bill was formerly a member of Lessing Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, Hadi Shrine, Robert Morris OES, Retired Fireman and Policeman Organization, and was active with Job's Daughters and DeMolay.

He enjoyed fishing and was a member of the Bass Masters Fishing Club.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ruth (Ulsas) Odom, in 1998; son, Kevin S. Odom in 2000; grandson, Matthew Tanner; brothers, Leonard and C. F. Odom; sisters, Clara Worthy and Doris Mullins; and two siblings in infancy, all from Georgia.

He is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Tanner and husband Richard; daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Freyberger and husband Jerry; grandchildren, Aaron Tanner, Rebecca (Tanner) Wesselman and husband Chad, Kari Freyberger, Sarah (Freyberger) Robinson and husband Adam, and Jennifer Odom; great-grandchildren, Jackson Tanner and Ella Robinson; two sisters, Martha Bridges and Lois McAdams of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday April 2, 2007 at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Reverend Mark Martin with entombment in Oak Hill Cemetery.  The Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Memorial Club will conduct military rites at the cemetery. Friends may visit Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. with a Masonic service at 6: 30 p.m. at Alexander Chapel East.

Memorial contributions may be made to Evansville ARC, 615 W. Virginia St., Evansville IN 47710 or Vanderburgh Humane Society, 400 Millner Industrial Drive, Evansville IN 47710. Arrangements by Alexander East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Ave.