Charles Augustus Odom, 94, one of the Greatest Generation, died Monday, August 6, 2018. He leaves behind Jeanne Odom, his wife, his sons Charles Gregory Odom, wife Paula, Maitland, FL & Gary Odom, wife Sarah, Roseburg, OR; his grandchildren, Charles Geoffrey Odom, wife Laura, Fern Park, FL and Karan Jessica Odom, Ithaca, NY & a great-granddaughter Ashley Odom.
Charlie was born in Hazlehurst, GA and graduated form Hazlehurst High School. Class of 1940. He was a co-op student at Georgia Tech and was a naval aviator. Charlie's favorite plane: the F4U Corsair.
After working for Westinghouse in a sales position, he achieved his dream of owning an independent agency specializing in commercial and industrial lighting. He retired from his business in 1988.
He seized this opportunity to travel with Jeanne. Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Russia, Alaska, and the Scandinavian countries. They drove on extensive trips across the United States. He delighted in keeping a record of these trips on four foot maps.
Charlie was a golfer. His best trip ever was playing in Scotland at St. Andrew's, Wales and Ireland. His second best: playing with the Hackers at King's Ridge.
Jeanne and Charlie had a home in the mountains of North Carolina for 16 years. He played golf at Lake Chatuge Golf Course. They became full-time residents of Florida after Charlie could no longer drive his beloved FORD pickup truck up to the mountains.
He was true to his roots in cooking ham hocks and black-eyed peas every New Year's Day. He was especially proud of his ambrosia.
We were all blessed by having this wonderful man in our lives and he will be missed very much. God bless you, Charlie. This is not good bye. See You!
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation , PO Box 443, Minneola, FL 34755-0443 (www.GCCF.us)