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Osborn Funeral Home - Shreveport

3631 Southern Avenue

Shreveport, Louisiana

Ray Oden Obituary

Ray Palmer Oden, Jr.



Funeral services will be held for Mr. Ray Palmer Oden, Jr., 88, of Shreveport, Louisiana, at 2:30pm on Monday, March 25, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Atlantic Avenue, in Shreveport, LA. Father Karl Daigle, Father Richard J. Lombard and Father Peter Mangum will be concelebrating the funeral mass in his honor. A visitation will be held prior to the mass from 1:00-2:30pm in the gathering space of St. Joseph's Church. A private graveside ceremony will follow the funeral mass at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport.

Mr. Oden passed away peacefully the evening of Thursday, March 21, 2013, surrounded by his family. A native of Shreveport and a product of the local public schools, Mr. Oden attended Creswell Grammar School and Byrd High School, where some of his best friendships were fostered, as evidenced by his weekly "ROMEO" luncheon ("Retired Old Men Eating Out"). He attended LSU majoring in Agriculture, Mr. Oden was a member of the Alpha Zeta Honorary Fraternity and a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order, Alpha Gamma Chapter.

In the fall of 1941, Mr. Oden vividly remembered being in his dorm room in Tiger Stadium when news broke of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. At that moment, his ROTC training at LSU took on added significance and in the fall of 1942, Mr. Oden enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He attended Columbia University Midshipmen's School in New York City, where he was commissioned as an Ensign and sent to the Naval Mine Warfare School in Yorktown, Virginia. Mr. Oden's minesweeper had departed Saipan and was en route to Okinawa when the U.S. atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He served two years in the Pacific and was Commanding Officer of a Minesweeper in Philippine waters when he received his honorable discharge at the end of World War II.

After the war, Mr. Oden returned to Baton Rouge, graduating from LSU in 1947. Following graduation, Mr. Oden returned to Shreveport where he was self-employed; engaged primarily in farming as owner and operator of Rosedale Plantation in North Bossier Parish. In 1950, Mr. Oden met the love of his life, Miss Dorothy Gene Long, whom he remained faithfully married to for sixty-three years. In 1957, Mr. Oden joined his father, Ray P. Oden, Sr. at the bank he co-founded, Louisiana Bank and Trust Co. Over the next 32 years, Mr. Oden served in many capacities including President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Oden's career was defined by honesty, a relentless work ethic, and his generosity and devotion to customers in times of need.

Mr. Oden devoted himself to many causes and organizations outside of his profession, including serving as director on the Board of Trustees of Jesuit High School and the Salvation Army. He was recognized in the early 80's by the Shreveport Optimist Club as "Mr. Shreveport" for his outstanding community service. Mr. Oden passionately volunteered over half of his life to the Willis Knighton Health System. He was elected as a Trustee of the Board in July of 1965 and then to Chairman in 1968, a position he held until his death, ultimately serving as the longest-standing Chairman of the Board of any health system in the country.

Mr. Oden was an encouraging advocate and strong supporter of his childrens' pursuits, rarely missing a sporting event or piano recital. Mr. Oden did not miss a single home game at Jesuit/Loyola well past his only grandson's, John Evans, playing days in 2002.

Mr. Oden was a former member of the First Methodist Church and the First Southern Methodist Church of Shreveport. In his later years he converted to Catholicism and joined St. Joseph Catholic Church.

His mother, Vera Taylor Oden, and father, Ray Palmer Oden, Sr., and sister, Frances Oden Youngblood, preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Mrs. Dorothy Long Oden of Shreveport; daughter Lynn Oden White and husband Gordon White of Spring, TX; son, Stuart L. Oden and wife Kim Grann Oden, of Shreveport; daughter, Karen Oden Evans and husband Keith John Evans, of Shreveport; niece Mary Anne Shemwell of Shreveport; grandchildren, to whom he was affectionately known as "Daddy O", Laura White Gawlik of The Woodlands, TX; Amanda White Tietze and husband B.J. of The Woodlands, TX; Allison White Saladino and husband Dee of Spring, TX; Dr. John Michael Evans and wife Meredith of Birmingham, AL; Emily Ann Evans and Rebecca Lynn Evans of Shreveport, LA; and Anne Katherine Oden, Mary Long Oden, and Leigh Grann Oden of Shreveport. The great-grandchildren of whom he took much pleasure are Gavin Gawlik, Abby and Ben Tietze, and Anthony Saladino. Also very beloved is Clotile Howard, who has been a very special part of our family since 1950.

Pallbearers will be Dr. John Evans, Dee Saladino, B. J. Tietze, Carlton Murray, Skipper Dickson, and Sonny Moss. Honorary pallbearers will be Twain Giddens, Dr. Thomas Strain, John Hearne, Ed Jones, Jim Gibson, Henry Brenner, Jerry Fielder, Dr. Pete Blanchard, Bruce Lynn, Jim Elrod, Walter Hawkins, Dr. Billy Fowler, Tigner Walker and Loy Moore.

The family wishes to extend its thanks to Dr. Pete Blanchard and his wonderful staff including Jenny, Vicki, and Pam; as well as Dr. Anil Nanda, and the entire staff of the Willis Knighton Health System. The family also wants to thank Daddy O's special caregivers, Francis Elzie and Norma Davis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Vincent de Paul c/o St. Joseph Church, 211 Atlantic Street, Shreveport, LA 71105, Food Bank of NW Louisiana, 2307 Texas Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71103 or to the charity of donor's choice.

Published by Shreveport Times from Mar. 23 to Mar. 25, 2013.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
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Louisiana has lost a giant oak. I am so sorry for your, and our, loss. John Kennedy

John Kennedy

March 26, 2013

Praying for you and your family.

Vicki Coody Mangum

March 25, 2013

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Andie Brocato Seaman

March 25, 2013

joe therrell

March 25, 2013

I am so very sorry for your loss. Ray was a treasure to your family, the community and those of us fortunate enough to have known him. I so wish I could be with you today as you celebrate his life and mourn his absence. Am spending what would have been Daddy's 98th birthday away. Know that my love and prayers are with you .

Tutu Baker

March 25, 2013

We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Oden and the entire family and Clotile Howard on the death of your husband and father.

His absence will be felt by many for many years to come.
Few people havchieved the position of respect and high esteem which he enjoyed for many years in the community.
With deepest sympathy
Sandra Hall Vaccaro
PS he was my first employer at LBT

March 24, 2013

Stuart, you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Teri Stadtlander

March 24, 2013

BETTY TAYLOR FARR

March 24, 2013

Our deepest sympathies to you & your family.
Don & Kim Carter
Ark-La-Tex Plumbing

March 24, 2013

My prayers go out to the Oden Family.

Shannon Hall

March 23, 2013

Our thoughts, prayers are with all of you. Daddy O was such a wonderful gentleman and leaves a legacy that he was very proud of! We love you All, Lynn, Stuart and Karen my heartfelt sympathy, as I walked through these same steps not too long ago. Love to all, Pat, Bernadette, Caitie and Patrick McFarland

Bernadette McFarland

March 23, 2013

The Final Salute

“Brothers in Arms”, Military men and women down through the centuries, have traditionally exchanged “Hand Salutes” as a sign of recognition and as a way to render courtesy and respect one to another.

This “Hand Salute” is the last that we shall render to Ray Palmer Oden, Jr. our “Brother-in-Arms”. To his family it symbolizes the love and respect that we have for Ray. And to Ray it is rendered as a symbol of honor and gratitude to thank him for the devoted and selfless service he rendered to his country during WW-II while serving in the U.S. Navy. Ray, you are a true patriot, who served with honor and distinction. You upheld the finest qualities of an American patriot warrior: courage, commitment, generosity, sacrifice, love and devotion to family and country. We bid you a sad farewell. You will be dearly missed from among our ranks. Be at Ease. Rest in Peace.

On behalf of the 1,261 military veteran Legionnaires of Lowe-McFarlane Post 14 of the American Legion and the 233 veterans of VFW Post 2238 in Shreveport, Louisiana, we extend our sympathies and our condolences to Ray's family and loved ones.

Stephen J. Lavery, Commander, American Legion Post 14
5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport, LA 71109

John Adams, Commander, VFW Post 2238
1245 Gary Street, Shreveport, LA 71101

For the Commanders, Carroll R. Michaud

March 23, 2013

Our prayers are with your family.

The Medvec Family

March 23, 2013

A life well lived. What a wonderful man. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Mary Nordberg

March 23, 2013

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