He served during WW II in the South Pacific on LST#1130 as a Gunnery Mate-3 for the US Navy. Born in Chipley, Florida April 24, 1925 to John Wesley Odom and Abbie Vickers, he came to Tallahassee after the war and worked for a time with Bachelor Oil Company and then went to work for Orkin Exterminating. After twenty-two years he worked his way from exterminator to leading salesman, then to operator. He then opened his own exterminating company and became known as that "Ole Bug-Man." For thirty years Odom Exterminating serviced North Florida from Panama City all the way to Lake City.
Bob Odom is pre-deceased by his wife, Joyce Hobbs Hosford Odom, one stepson, Robert G. Hosford, one very special great-granddaughter, Devon Hosford, his parents and step-mother, Bessie Vickers Odom, brothers, Rufus Odom, Lloyd Odom, Paul Odom, and Doyle Odom.
Bob Odom is survived by a sister, Sadie Ruth Lovett, of Southport, a brother, Charles E. "Jim" Odom, another sister, Shirley Ammons and husband, Horace of Tarpon Springs; he leaves a step-son Laurie H. Hosford and wife, Karen, step-grandsons, Robert Michael Hosford, Ronald Gordon Hosford, Stephen Wayne Hosford, and Paul Thomas Hosford. Surviving step-granddaughter is Shannon Leigh Hosford, step-great-grandchildren are: Jeanna Hosford, Thomas Gordon Hosford, Jennifer Leigh Hosford, Morgan Sydney Hosford, Sarah Gabrielle Hosford, Andrew Wayne Hosford, Joyce Inez Hosford, Kaitlyn Michelle Hosford, Carriann Marie Hosford and Makenna Paige Hosford. Bob Odom leaves behind relatives, two sisters-in-law, Candice Odom of Southport and Sarah Odom of Graceville as well as a host of nieces and nephews, including one special nephew, Billie Odom and wife, Mary of Tallahassee. Special friends are Joe and Annabelle Crutchfield, Chris and Kathy Lecher, Ashley France-Trimble, Shirley LaRock, and Patricia Johnson Hosford.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, September 8, at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home- Timberlane Road Chapel (850-893-4177), with burial at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park. After fifty-four years in the exterminating business the "Ole Bug-Man" retired. He loved his work and the many friends he made doing it. To him, his work was like a hobby.
Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.
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