Capt. Dennis Franklin Odom, USN (Ret.)

On November 1, 2024, Dennis Franklin Odom was welcomed by his loving Savior Jesus Christ into heaven. The love and grace of his heavenly Father gave him wisdom, joy, the gift of teaching, and the privilege to encourage those about Him.

He was born on March 6, 1947, to Ora Jeanette McGinnis Odom and James Franklin Odom. He grew up in a loving home in the Norwood section of Northwest Knoxville, Tennessee. With his younger brother, Alan, he enjoyed a childhood full of bike riding, football, and exploring the beautiful neighborhood creeks and fields, with neighborhood boys. He also camped in the Smoky Mountains with his family.

He attended Norwood Elementary School and later graduated in 1965 from Central High School. At Central, he made many lifelong friends. He played trombone in the 100 Man Marching Band, and particularly enjoyed the activities of the Key Club. In later life, a group called "The Geezers" would meet annually to celebrate their high school memories.

He entered the University of Tennessee determined to become a dentist, but God had other ideas. Even though a special program allowed him into U.T. Dental School in Memphis after his junior year, an injury to his hand when a fellow student accidentally stabbed him with a scalpel during his first semester exams, caused him to have to withdraw. The dean advised him to earn his undergraduate degree while healing and then come back. During that interval, God led him to his future wife, Rebecca "Becky" Benton. They attended U.T. football games, U.T. theater events, and were involved in the college age activities of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, where both their families attended. After graduating from U.T. with a degree in Education (Natural Sciences) in March of 1970, his life took another direction.

He decided to join the Navy. This association was to last 31 years, spanning active duty and reserve service. Taking him from the rank of E3 to captain. Some of the highlights of his naval career include being selected Honor Man at graduation in both his boot camp and his medical / dental tech "A" school. His classmates appreciated his leadership and the extra tutoring that helped those weakest in academics to succeed. His first assignment was to NAX Jacksonville where he assisted the dentists and helped on the oral surgery team. While there, he enjoyed tubing on the Ichetucknee River and excavating a mastodon skeleton which he and his buddies donated to a local museum.

In March of 1972 he was accepted into OCS at Newport, Rhode Island. He married his sweetheart and set out on five eventful months of training to be a naval officer. Hurricane Agnes hit in June of that year and the base was evacuated. He sheltered in his wife's tiny attic apartment in a 200-year-old house in nearby Middletown.

Dennis found OCS a breeze after enlisted boot camp, so he found ways to entertain himself and others. He helped others in the OCS band learn the parts to "The Mickey Mouse March" and they played it without prior approval during a big inspection. He also conspired with cadets to end a perfectly executed days-long "mock" exercise that involved maneuvering ships at sea so that they all crashed together at the last moment. Their instructors didn't punish them too much since they recognized ingenuity of the prank.

He served in Charleston as the public affairs officer of the Mine Warfare Force during the days when it was a worldwide command with a two-star general. Those wooden ships were involved in the sweeping of mines from the Vietnamese ports at the end of the war in Vietnam, and after removing them from the Suez Canal. When he retired from active duty, he remained in local naval reserve units. 

Upon leaving active-duty naval service in 1975, he embarked on a rewarding career teaching science classes for over 30 years in the Charleston area. Starting with Middleton High School, he also taught 8th grade at both N.C. Toole Middle School and C.E. Williams Middle School, and finished with stints at St. Andrews High School and West Ashley High School. Science was difficult for some students, but he was an inspiring teacher who challenged but encouraged them in many ways. He was known for his short end-of-class mini quizzes, which he only counted if the students needed the points. He also gave students who learned at different rates the chance to take different tests over material they hadn't passed on an earlier test. He made classes fun with contests, silly games, and interesting experiments. He was famous at West Ashley High for his exploding, flaming gas-filled bubble tower. Former students would often revisit him at school to thank him for making freshman chemistry at college seem easy.

One of the other pleasures in his life came from serving the Lord as a Bible/Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Deacon Chairman, pitching in church league softball, narrating musical cantatas, acting in church dramas, attending and organizing men's weekly breakfasts with Bible study, and doing phone counseling ministry through the Billy Graham Association. Over the years, his favorite way to teach the Bible was to go through it verse by verse, from beginning to end. His teaching attracted, inspired, challenged, and comforted his class members. He spent much time every week in prayer and research and always said he received more blessings than they did from his studies.

After his retirement from teaching in 2008, Dennis was finally able to play golf. He enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of his golfing buddies, the beautiful Charleston courses, and many laughs and good times. He also was able to participate in parades, ceremonies, and historic events with the Sumter Guard and "A" team. He wore the historic uniforms, shot cannons, and learned to appreciate the history of Charleston. He was also able to participate in Masonic activities.

He dearly loved his wife and soulmate, Becky, and his only son, Joel. He was thankful for their loving care while he was on home hospice the last three months of his life.

Trinity Bible Church also ministered in a mighty way to his family showing love. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Rebecca Odom and his faithful son, Joel. He also leaves behind his brother, Alan (Gloria) Odom; sister-in-laws, Jane (Jim) Smith and Toni Reagan; his goddaughter, Malorie (Jameson) Walker; as well as his nephews and nieces and their families: Brett Odom, Clay (Elizabeth) Odom, Adam Bailey, Allison (Josh) Rice, Cody (Madilyn) Reagan, and Kelsie (Carson) Phibbs. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Bruce Benton.

The Funeral Service for Dennis Franklin Odom will be held in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 7:30 pm. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in J. Henry Stuhr Inc., West Ashley Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a gift to Trinity Bible Church, 3589 Mary Ader Ave., Charleston, SC 29414.

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