Kenneth Wayne O’Dell passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife, Claudette, and family. Ken was born in Celina, Texas on April 16th,1 933 and grew up in Denton, son of Joseph Carter O’Dell and Dottie Crosswhite Ritchie.
Ken is survived by his wife, Claudette Waraksa O’Dell, whom he met on a college blind date. Claudette was drawn to his wit and intelligence and quickly knew his unique perspective would keep her entertained for a lifetime. Their marriage at Christ the King Church in 1958 would be the start of 65 years of family, travel, and many walks on the beach.
After enlisting in the US Army during the Korean War, Ken was stationed in Japan as a court reporter. This experience fostered a lifelong appreciation of Japanese and Asian culture and a drive to learn through books and travel. Any encounter with Ken was sure to lead to a detailed treatise on subjects such as bonsai, the proper brewing of green tea, or the intricacies of sumo wrestling. After retirement, with his extensive knowledge, he found a second more relaxed career as a docent at the Crow Museum of Asian Art in downtown Dallas.
The GI bill offered Ken the opportunity to seek a business degree at North Texas State University. He worked in the journalism department as a photographer at both NTSU and Denton High School. It would be a skill he’d use to capture detailed moments, landscapes, and nature images throughout his life. A true renaissance man, Ken also expressed his creativity and unique perspective through writing and a poetic approach to living. Together, Ken and Claudette curated a life that was beautiful, both in appearance and mental acuity.
Kenneth and Claudette had four children; Brian, Laura, Stephen, and Beth Ann. Whether it was packing a delicious road trip picnic for kids on their way to college, making pierogi with Meems and Gramps, or carving the perfect ham at Thanksgiving, Ken showed his love for others through food. He shared his culinary passion with the same meticulous attention to detail he did everything in life. By imparting this knowledge to his children and grandchildren, he will always be remembered as the family “head chef.”
Although separated by many miles, Ken remained close with his eight siblings: sisters Rowena Sealy, Freda Gheen, Avanelle Witherspoon, and brothers Ralph O’Dell, Clayton O’Dell, Harold Sidney O’Dell, Wallace White and Bob White. Throughout the years there were many gatherings filled with extended family of cousins and friends, talent show shenanigans, music, and of course, home cooking.
At his 90th birthday, many family members shared personal stories about their experiences with Ken. Collectively, they illustrated his innate ability to create special connections with everyone, curating advice, jokes and tall tales individual to each person he met, be they one or ninety-one. Ken’s perspective and encyclopedic memory for details on surprising subjects to the very end will be missed. With no one else was his connection as strong as with his wife Claudette. Their wanderlust took them around the world, to their favorite beaches across Florida, and to quiet drives in their neighborhood. In his final days, Claudette’s nearness was a calming presence to Ken. His kindness and humor were a constant reminder of how much he loved and cherished his wife.
Ken is survived by wife Claudette, their children Laura and husband Kevin Graham; Stephen and wife Wipada O’Dell; Beth Ann and husband Russell Huber. Grandchildren, Andrea and husband John Goddard; David and wife Kelly Graham; Rachel and husband Garrett Nerren; Tom and wife Paige Huber, John Graham; Michael Huber and fiance Allison Piot; Mark Huber; and Sebastian O’Dell. Great grandchildren, George Nerren, Luke Goddard, and Walter Nerren. He is preceded in death by son, Brian, and six of his siblings.
Kenneth Wayne O’Dell profoundly touched each of our lives and will live on in our hearts.
Services will be held at Christ the King Church on Preston Rd in Dallas, TX. A vigil and rosary on Thursday, May 23rd at 6pm and a funeral mass on Friday, May 24th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choosing.
“As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings a happy death.” - Leonardo da Vinci
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