James Edward O'Dell was born in Boomer, West Virginia on December 25th 1942. Jim took his last breath surrounded by family in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, November 10th 2020 after a long battle with COPD.
He was told he had 3 years to live in 2006. He managed his disease and outlived a death sentence by 11 years! The way he died is just like the way he lived. He wrote his own rules, he fought authority and he paved his own way. If you said he couldn't do it, he would make sure he did just to prove you wrong!
His most proud achievement in life was marrying the love of his life, Barbara Jean Brinn of Norfolk, VA on May 12, 1963. She supported him in all his glory during his heyday and lovingly supported him physically during their last days together.
Jim served in the US Air Force then moved on to be a dedicated, now retired, signalman for Norfolk and Western Railroad. Over the years he dabbled in several other businesses including, but not limited to, land development, video stores, convenient stores, restaurants, bars, flea markets, a car wash, laundromat, apartment building, woodworking, laser engraving, Internet sales. He was an overall entrepreneur at large and jack-of-all-trades. As he became sicker with COPD he began helping others into motorized wheelchairs to get around.
He is survived by his oldest daughter Kimberly Toney of Alum Creek West Virginia, her husband Ray and their 2 children Colton and Camryn Toney, his youngest daughter, Jennifer O'Dell, who resides in Breckenridge, Colorado and his oldest sister Betty Boley of Live Oak, Florida.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Dodd Payne Hess Funeral Home in Fayetteville, WV on Saturday, November 14th at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers and as an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care of Southern WV PO Box 1472 Beckley WV 25802 who our family cannot thank enough for helping our loved one pass peacefully.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18