William Dodds

With heavy hearts, the family of William Ford Dodds, 202 Oak Street, Wakefield, announce his passing. Mr. Dodds passed away peacefully on October 11, 2010 with his family by his side.

Born September 2, 1917, in Zelienople Pennsylvania, he was the second son of Ford Carson Dodds and Caroline Ketterer Dodds. He was raised in a loving gentle family of German stock, and remembers his grandmother beginning every day with Our Father, spoken in German. He spent his boyhood happily, even raising a pet rooster named Cicero! He was a child of the Depression, so he quickly learned the value of helping out his family. He had an extensive paper route, from which he managed to save $300 on his occasional penny tip per newspaper. All this was lost when the banks folded in the Crash. He had so many fond memories of roaming the Pennsylvania forests and valleys, swimming in Slippery Rock"crick" over the mill dam and waterfall with his brother and eating beans and hot dogs by a campfire at night.

At Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, he was President of the Class of 1935, and organized the infamous Senior Dance. With the proceeds, he was able to purchase one car for members of his class to sit in or ride around in!
He worked at the New York World's Fair in 1939, from which developed his interest and love of the countries of the world.

He attended and graduated from Albion College in Michigan in the 1940's, where he worked four years in the steel foundry to pay his own way. He was also a starter lineman on the Albion football team, which won two championships. His name can still be seen in the Albion College Sports Hall of Fame.

After college graduation, he enlisted in the Navy to serve in World War II. He trained at the US Navy Midshipman School in New York City on the USS Prairie State. His first command was USS YP (Yard Patrol) Boat 416 out of Boston, a tiny boat which sailed all the way to the Pacific. Subsequently, he was appointed Commander on the destroyer escort USS Bivin and USS Rombach in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He still tells the tales of the beauty of the tropics and the goodness of the natives he met ashore, as well as the realities of war. For example, as the Executive Officer on the Bivin in August 1945, he conducted a search for the Japanese submarine that sunk the USS Indianapolis, and in November of 1945, he picked up the innocent witnesses from Bataan Island to testify at the war trial of General Yamashita in Manila. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.

In May 1946, Bill married his longtime sweetheart, USN, Y2
Marjorie Moody of Stoneham Mass. Together they raised four children: Marcia of Sanbornton NH, married to Jack Glazebrook, Marilyn of Manomet Mass, married to Dan O'Leary, Michele of Lincoln NH, married to Peter Moore, and son William, Jr, of Great Barrington Mass.

In later years, after his wife Marjie's untimely passing, he met again his childhood friend from Pennsylvania, Dolly Close. They were able to enjoy 20 happy years together. People would often find them just singing! He loved waking up each morning and starting the day with a prayer, he loved going out into his oasis of a backyard, where all the neighborhood children played, he loved tending his garden where no plant was ever a weed, he loved family get togethers around his table, he loved his God and as his son remembers, he loved"everything". Every day to him was wonderful, a "miracle day."

On October 11, he went peacefully home to be with those on the other side. He had a wonderful long life full of love, faith, hope, and charity towards all, living very lightly on the Earth and always while here having his heart in Heaven. He knew that this world is our heaven on earth and showed us by his daily example.

He was such a joy to his family, and we will miss him so much.
His grandchildren too will miss his beautiful spirit:
Dan O'Leary III,, who sat by him in his final hours and read to him from the Bible
Erin O'Leary, who put the holding cross in his hands
Scott O'Leary, who loved him with a young man's clarity
Annie Glazebrook, whose wedding he danced at in Costa Rica when he was 92!
Jacky Glazebrook, who loved to talk football with him and held his hand quietly as he left us.

Visitation will be held at the family home at 202 Oak St., Wakefield on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Funeral service and interment will be private. Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.










Read William Dodds's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

Dodds Family Home
202 Oak St.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, October 14, 2010, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Service

Private