William Howard Oden

Reverend William "Bill" Oden, 88, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, March 13, 2011. He was born on a farm in Chilton County, Alabama on June 2, 1922. He left Auburn University to enlist in the U.S. Navy after December 7, 1941. He served from January, 1942 to October, 1945, assigned to Torpedo Squadrons 10 and 3 aboard the USS Saratoga, as First Class AO. He flew in SPD Dive Bombers as navigator, radioman, and gunner. While in the Navy he met and married Anne M. Fanning with whom they have shared a marriage of over 68 years. After being discharge from the U.S. Navy, Bill became involved with the Baptist ministry serving as the director of the Serviceman Center at the First Baptist Church in San Diego, California. Bill and Anne were always involved in Christian service wherever they lived. In 1957, Bill was ordained as a Baptist Minister and was involved in starting the Berean Baptist Church in Elberta, Alabama. Bill and Anne eventually moved to Houston, Texas, were they were members of Garden Oaks Baptist Church were Bill served as Associate Pastor. In 1988 and 1992 Bill served the Lord as a circuit minister in western Wyoming.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, one brother and five sisters. Bill leaves his wife Anne and three wonderful children, Claudia Pippi, Dennis Oden and his wife Donna, and son Nathan Oden; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, March 17th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Pat H. Foley Funeral Directors. The funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, March 18th at the chapel of Pat H. Foley Funeral Directors, interment will follow Houston National Cemetery