GILMER- Visitation for Ralph will be at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer from 6:00-8:00pm on Thursday, March 17, 2016. The funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, March 18, 2016 at Rosewood Missionary Baptist Church and immediately followed by the burial service.

Ralph David Odom passed away on March 15, 2016. He was born in Enon, TX on August 17, 1923 to Artemas Ward Odom and Florence Zela Irons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Dewie Odom and Montie Vaurine Odom. His brother JD Odom lives in Gilmer with his wife, Mable Jo.

Ralph Graduated from Harmony High School and soon found himself graduating from the Fleet Torpedo School at US Destroyer Base in San Diego, CA. He served six months on Submarine USS S-31 at the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, HI. He received his honorable discharge on September 29, 1945.

Returning back to Upshur County, he and Jimmie Louise Odom were happily married to enjoy a wonderful life together celebrating their 70th Anniversary on February 7, 2016. They raised 3 children, Gary David Odom (died June 20, 2014) and wife Deborah (died May 12, 2004), Danny Lynn Odom and wife, Linda, Pamela Sue Odom Hurd and husband, George.

Ralph worked several jobs during his adult life; bakery, farming, ranching, but spent 30 years at International Harvester, retiring in 1980 to allow he and Louise to return to their beloved farm place in Rosewood, Texas.

Ralph loved his church, family, and most of all his wife, Louise. Together they enjoyed working on their farm and getting visits from their children, grandchildren; Tara Johnson and husband, Kelley, Amber Reese and husband, Jason, Patrick Odom and wife, Julie, Rebecca Dye, George Hurd, Jr. and wife, Rua, Timothy Hurd, and twelve great grandchildren, Taylor, Cassidy, Zachary, Madeline, Allison, Jacey, Jackson, Jonah, Sarah, Savienne, Nicole, and Leila.

GILMER- Visitation for Louise will be at Rosewood Baptist Church 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Monday, September 5, 2016. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., that afternoon and immediately followed by the burial service.

Louise Odom passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2016. She was born in Latch, TX on November 17, 1927 to James Alex Pool and Bessie Lavada Carrol Pool. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings, James Preston Pool, Fred Pool and Charles Elwin Pool.

Louise graduated from Harmony High School as valedictorian. She supported the WWII effort in Dallas by building fuel tanks for the Lockheed P38 Lightning Aircraft.

She and Ralph D. Odom (died March 15, 2016) had a wonderful life together and celebrated their 70th Anniversary on February 7, 2016. They raised three children, Gary David Odom (died June 20, 2014) and wife Deborah (died May 12, 2004); Danny Lynn Odom and wife, Linda and Pamela Sue Odom Hurd and husband, George.

After a short time working as a switchboard operator in Gilmer, she devoted her life to raising her three children. She and Ralph returned to their beloved farm place in Rosewood, TX when Ralph retired in 1980. She loved making new friends and never met a stranger. She loved all the wildlife, especially feeding and watching the birds.

Louise and Ralph loved their church, the family and each other. Besides working on the farm, Louise learned how to work with pictures on the computer and donated many hours of time working on the first pictorial directory for Rosewood Baptist Church. She also loved to repair old photos and made lots of friends and relatives happy when she took their old torn photos and repaired them.

Louise dearly loved getting visits from her children and grandchildren, Tara Johnson and husband, Kelley, Amber Reese and husband, Jason, Patrick Odom and wife, Julie, Rebecca Shelton and husband, Jeremy, George Hurd, Jr. and wife, Rua and Sandra Hurd and James Hurd; 12 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Cassidy, Zachary, Madeline, Allison, Jacey, Jackson, Jonah, Sarah, Savienne, Nicole and Leila.

Family request that memorials may also be made to the Rosewood Cemetery Association, Rosewood Baptist Church, 1044 S. Mimosa Rd, Gilmer, TX 75644.