On the cool morning of April 4, 1963, in the West Texas Panhandle town of Lockney, Briscoe County added to its census the name Roderick Keith Oliver. The first child born to the parentage of Jack Oliver Jr. and Ella Ivory Oliver was better known to family as “Rod” or “Roddy Keith”. In 1967 his family relocated to Fort Worth, Tx. where he became a lifelong music lover and an avid musician who played both drums and bass guitar. His passion for music brought great joy and deep meaning to his life.
Rod was a graduate of Dunbar High School class of ’81 where he played football and was in the marching band. He attended Tarrant County College until he took all the music classes it had to offer and then went to Prairie View A&M University where he played the snare drum in its marching band. PV is where he pledged Omega Psi Phi and gained the name “Ice Man” that most of his friends know him by today. He was also a graduate of Brayon Institute in Computer Science.
Rod confessed Christ at an early age at Truevine Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor J. L. Crane where he sang in the youth choir, was active in the youth department, and grew up to be one of their musicians. Continuing to follow this passion, he was apart of several Quartet groups and later became the Bass Guitarist at Mount Horum Baptist Church.
Roderick married Ms. Sharon Livingston on March 21, 1987 and they were married for 28 years. To that union two sons were born, Dante Keith Oliver (Arielle) and Rodney Dewayne Oliver. He worked at Mama’s Pizza for years before he went on to work at American Airlines where he later retired after 20+ years of service.
He was preceded in death by his father- Jack Oliver Jr., sister- Karen D. Titues, maternal grandparents Henry and Willie Mae Ivory, and paternal grandparents Jack Oliver Sr. and Lee Elliott Jackson.
He leaves to cherish his memories Ms. Sharon Oliver, his sons- Dante (Arielle) and Rodney, two loving grandchildren- Arianne and Drayden, his mother- Ms. Ella Mae Oliver, one brother- Kirk Oliver, one nephew- Lawrence (Dee) Titues, one niece- Acy (Red) Oliver and a host of relatives/friends/fraternity brothers.
Roderick will be truly missed by us all!!!
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gwspencerdirs.net for the OLIVER family.
