Bryan Christopher Oden

Bryan Christopher Oden was born June 8, 1992, in Fort Worth, Texas, to David and Eileen Oden. He passed away accidentally on February 14, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with mental health and substance use issues.

Bryan moved with his family to Vienna, Virginia, at age 3 and to Dallas at age 5. After high school graduation, he attended Texas Tech University and was currently a student at University of Texas at Dallas.

Bryan took pride in his work as a restaurant server over the years, striving to provide professional and friendly service.

Bryan’s greatest joy was his family, extended family and friends. He loved and looked up to his sister, Amy. He treasured time spent with grandparents, aunts, uncles and his many cousins. He also appreciated all who worked with him to fight the cruel diseases of depression, anxiety and addiction. In turn, he worked to help others in recovery.

The family’s Lake Brownwood house was a favorite place where Bryan felt so free as he rode a jet ski (fast!), water skied like a pro, tubed, fished, swam, played games and napped.

Bryan also looked forward to trips to Kansas City, where he was able to see his grandparents Adam and Kathryn Stadler and all of Eileen’s siblings and their families. At a young age, he declared that in Kansas City there was “always food in the kitchen and lots of people”.

Bryan liked breakfast, Tex-Mex, barbecue and banana pudding. He and David always searched for the best chicken-fried steak. When living in Boston for a time, Bryan was unable to find acceptable Tex-Mex – so he shared salsa from The Original in Fort Worth with his New England friends, determined to “change some lives”.

Bryan’s interests changed over time, but whatever he did, it was with passion. The weather, gardening, snow and water skiing, tennis, fishing, catching his own bait and photography all captured Bryan’s attention over the years.

It’s difficult to list all of Bryan’s positive qualities. He displayed humanity and grace; he was loving and caring, both smart and insightful; thoughtful, gentle and sensitive. Put simply, he wanted everyone to be treated right.

Bryan really enjoyed a good laugh and was able to see humor even in some dark situations. So often something would strike Bryan as funny and a moment later we would catch up, suddenly see it too and start laughing.

Bryan is predeceased by grandparents Patsy and James Oden and Adam Stadler. In addition to his parents and Amy, Bryan is survived by grandmother Kathryn Stadler; aunts and uncles Jennifer Misko, Jim Misko, Mary Stadler, Mark and Lillian Stadler, Anne and Don Farmer, Julie and David Findlay and Eugene Podrebarac; cousins Erin (Zach) Mehrer, Chris Findlay, Paul Farmer, Tim Farmer, Jacob Misko, Nick Misko, Katy Stadler, Kyle Stadler, Rosemary Podrebarac, Bill Podrebarac, Lindsay (Scott) Bachhuber and Amanda (Will) Jung.

We will celebrate Bryan’s life at 2:00 pm on March 18, 2023, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX, 75225.

Memorials in Bryan’s memory may be made to the Center for Students in Recovery at University of Texas at Dallas at https://giving.utdallas.edu. Please choose Designation “other” and type “Center for Students in Recovery” into the provided space.

Or you may mail a check to University of Texas at Dallas, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 800 W. Campbell Road, SPN 10, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, with Center for Students in Recovery specified in the note section.