Calvin C. O’Dell

NORTH CANAAN — Calvin C. O’Dell, 86, of Sodom Road, died March 3, 2012, at the Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was the husband of the late Norma (Surdam) O’Dell.Calvin was born Jan. 7, 1926, in Pownal, Vt., the son of the late Ethlyn (Hatch) and Calvin R. O’Dell. Calvin was an electrician by trade. He worked for Hilco, and did a great amount of work as an electrician on his own. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and fought at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He served on board the USS Olympus which was the flagship of Admiral Thomas C. Kincaid. That same ship was later used by Commander Richard Byrd in an expedition to Antarctica. Calvin lived in New Mexico from 1975 until he returned to the Northwest Corner in 2005. While in New Mexico Calvin was a member of the VFW, and enjoyed being a “rock hound” or gemologist, and was an accomplished gardener raising many varieties of roses. During his time here Calvin was a member of the Falls Village Fire Department. Calvin is survived by his daughter, Leslie Zinke and her husband, Wayne, of North Canaan; his sister, Gladys Rockefeller of Sharon; his two stepchildren, Linda MacDonald and her husband, Robert, of New Mexico, and William Cluff and his wife, Doris, of Texas; his seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Calvin was predeceased by his two sons, Michael in 1959 and Kim in 1969.A celebration of Calvin’s life will be held on Saturday, March 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan. At 5 p.m. the Rev. Betty Legyt will lead a Service of Remembrance. Burial with full military honors will be held in the spring at Grassy Hill Cemetery in Falls Village. Memorial donations may be sent to the North Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, PO Box 178, North Canaan, CT 06018; or to Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 99 South Canaan Road, North Canaan, CT 06018.

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