Henry Baxter Odom III

Henry Baxter Odom III, better known among his family and friends as OPA passed away quietly March 7^th at age 80.

He began life on September 29, 1942 in Florence, South Carolina. Born to Henry Baxter Odom JR and Mary Rouse Odom he was the first of three children, survived by his sisters Barbara Gause and Peggy Eaddy. His curiosity began on his Pappy’s farm where he raised ducks, ran bare feet with his companion Sport and talked with his beloved grandparents. When the time came, he earned his Bachelor’s at the Francis Marion extension of the University of SC in Florence and subsequently his Master’s in Physics from Clemson University. Upon graduation, he came to Dahlgren, VA and worked as a physicist at the Dahlgren Naval Base for 38 years. During his tenure, he travelled throughout the world, to include Israel, Japan, Australia, and Europe, as well as the United States for conferences.

Opa’s proudest moments revolved around his family to include his wife of 49 years Mary Belle (71), His 4 children and their spouses Henry and Wendy , John and Melissa, Sarah and Donald and Rosemary and DJ and 11 grandchildren Alexander, Jackson, William, Addison, Henry, Penelope, Violet, Grant, Olivia, Catherine and Sienna.  Those moments include his love of travel, whether to Edisto Island, South Carolina, where he took his family to play in the sand or to Europe where he adored the people and every place in between.

He taught his family the value of exploring and experiencing the world. Whether it was through hard work, travel or just being in there, singing his inky dinky do song. His proudest and most sacred moments were with his family from sliding down slides with his grandchildren, travelling with his children to Texas on the longest road trip ever or just having a long chat about anything and everything. He even broke his golden rule and ate cheese bread on his trip to Alaska. His curiosity never faltered as he would ask his family why they would do something a certain way. It was always out of wonder. He was amazed by his children and his grandchildren. He valued their experiences and always wanted to be a part. As he always said “Hanging out with my grandchildren added 20 years to my life.”

He also gave back to the community by supporting an educational endowment at Clemson University for First in Family in its Science department. He himself being first to go to college in his family keenly felt the power of education as way to build bridges and unite the world. He supported the local community in Richmond while restoring his mother-in-law’s house. Simple non-judgmental nods to help his fellow human being out.

Dad’s passing is a great loss to his family and friends, but he will live on in each of us through the love and support he provided to each member of his family. His legacy has already been felt by the youngest of his grandchildren, with quiet naps on the couch as Sienna silently slept to the tune of Opa’s buzzsaw snores filling the room. His love will endure for generations to come, because he helped each of us to love better and stronger.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 1 at Dahlgren United Methodist Church in King George.