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Paul Russell Odom was a
beloved Christian who deeply loved his family,
church, country, and community. Born on Oct. 27,
1922 to L.A. and Rosalie Russell Odom, he died
peacefully on January 1, 2012 surrounded by his
family in his Lincoln home where he resided with his
only child, Paula, and her husband, Dr. Richard Knopp.
He was married to
Katherine Hendrickson for nearly 60 years until her
death in 2006. Survivors include his daughter,
Paula (Rich) Knopp; his grandchildren: Nicki (Greg)
Green of Bloomington, IL; Katherine (Justin) Young
of Springfield, IL; and Andrew Paul (Lindsey) Knopp
of Cedar Rapids, IA; and six great grandchildren:
Jacob Paul, Gabrielle Rose, and Colton Green;
Eleanor Katherine and Lincoln Russell Young; and
William Paul Knopp. He also leaves a sister: Betty
(Frank) Steh, and nieces: Rosenell and Dr. Beth Steh
(Kevin) Jarvis, of Springfield, IL.
Mr. Odom served as an
aircraft mechanic with the Marines in the South
Pacific during WWII. He opened a dry cleaning
business in his hometown of Johnston City, IL that
became Odom's Men's Wear that he and his wife
operated for 33 years. Mr. Odom was a
vice-president of a Johnston City bank and a member
and chairman of the Southern Illinois Hospital
Services Board of Trustees that had hospitals in
Herrin and in Carbondale.
His life reflected a
deep love for God and the church. He was the first
preacher for the Western Heights Christian Church in
Carbondale; a board member for the Southern
Illinois Christian Service Camp; an active
participant in the Coal Belt Evangelistic
Association; and a college trustee and board chairman for
St. Louis Christian College.
Mr. Odom was also the
preaching minister at the Plumfield, IL Christian
Church near West Frankfort for 17 years and the
Shiloh Christian Church near Marion for 13 years. After moving to Lincoln in 1990, he preached for
the San Jose Christian Church for eight years and
ministered for the Jolly Seniors at Lincoln
Christian Church for almost seven years. For the
last three years, he served as an elder at Lincoln
Christian Church. In 2008, Lincoln Christian
University awarded Mr. Odom a Christian Servant's
Award for his life's devotion to Christian work.
Visitation for Mr. Odom
will be at Lincoln Christian Church from 4-7 p.m. on
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Funeral service will be at
the church at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, with Dr.
Paul Boatman officiating. He will be buried at
Lakeview Cemetery near Johnston City, IL on Jan. 5
at 4:30 p.m. next to his wife, Katherine. Memorial
gifts may be given to Lincoln Christian Church. Holland, Barry, and Bennett Funeral Home is
handling the arrangements.
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