Ernest L. Cody

Ernest Lee Cody, Jr. (“Ernie”) was born September 9, 1939 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to his father (Ernest Lee Cody, Sr.) and mother (Lee Ona Cody, nee Habiger).  He and his parents moved to Pocatello, Idaho when Ernie was very young while his father built Army bases for the US Government.  Because his father had to travel for the federal government, Ernie was left with his maternal grandfather on the Habiger family farm in Bushton, Kansas – a city with a population of 470 people at the time.  Ernie learned to read, write and do basic arithmetic from his grandfather before he even started first grade.  He would also learn basic electrical engineering from his grandfather, which he would use later in college.

Ernie attended St. Joseph’s Military Academy boarding school in Hays, KS for high school.  He graduated from St. Joseph’s in 1957 as the class valedictorian.  After graduating from St. Joseph’s Military Academy, Ernie went on to attend Marquette University on a Navy ROTC scholarship.  He met his wife of over 61 years, Mary Cody, nee Hogan while at Marquette, and the 2 got married just days after their graduation in 1961.  While at Marquette, Ernie was a member of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.  While Ernie earned a degree in electrical engineering from Marquette, he would say that he majored in “United States Marine Corps-ing.”  Upon graduation from Marquette, Ernie elected to be commissioned in the United States Marine Corp.  He went on to serve faithfully in the Marine Corps until 1968, when he retired at the rank of Captain.  He served in Vietnam with the 12th Marine Regiment (3rd Division) and was awarded the Bronze Star for distinguished service during his Vietnam deployment.  He commanded an artillery battalion near the DMZ in Gio Linh, Dong Ha and Khe Sanh.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Ernie and his growing family relocated to Fullerton, CA.  He went to work for IBM in the burgeoning computer industry, where he worked for decades, including a tenure at the Ross Perot-owned Electronic Data Systems.  He ultimately owned his own software and consulting business and merged with Compusource before retiring in 2005. 

Ernie was an avid golfer, having played religiously until the last couple of years of his life.  He was a member of Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia, CA.  He was also an avid sports fan.  In addition to watching all levels of sports, he spent years coaching his children in softball, baseball, basketball, football and volleyball.  But when it came to sports, he loved nothing more than to watch his grandchildren as they excelled in their own sports careers.

Ernie is survived by his wife of 61 years Mary and their 6 children – Katy (59), Patty (57), Jim (56), Michael (51), TJ (49) and Sarah (42).  Ernest is also survived by his 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in my Ernie’s name to the following charities:

St. Jude Memorial Foundation

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Wounded Warriors Project

American Heart Association

A funeral mass will be held for Ernie at St. Angela’s Catholic Church in Brea, CA on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.  There will be a private internment ceremony at a later date.