H.H. Bode

BODE, H.H., retired corporate director of industrial relations for Reynolds Metals Company, died December 25, 2010. He was 95 years old and had lived in Richmond for 58 years. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Bode directed the aluminum company's labor relations and hourly personnel policies at 45 plants in the United States and 25 plants abroad. He graduated from Duke University in engineering in 1937. He began his career with U.S. Steel in Birmingham, Ala. as industrial engineer in its mining and fabricating divisions. In 1941, he joined Reynolds Metals Company at its new North Alabama plants as industrial engineer. After moving to Reynolds' corporate headquarters, he was promoted to director of wage administration, assistant director of industrial relations. In 1970, he became the corporate director of the division. Following retirement, Mr. Bode served two years as interim dean of the School of Business at Virginia State University. Mr. Bode was a member of the Labor Relations Committee of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, the Subcommittee on Multinational Personnel and Industrial Relations for the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Labor Policy Association of Washington, D.C. He was a director of the Southeastern Personnel Conference and a director of the Southern Industrial Relations Conference. He also served on the Richmond Community High School Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors of Children Incorporated. In 1992, Mr. Bode was named Conservationist of the Year in recognition of his volunteer activities on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Mr. Bode was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a life member of Hermitage Country Club. He especially enjoyed camping, boating and photography with his wife, children and friends. Mr. Bode is survived by his wife of 68 years, Emlyn Colmant Bode; his daughter, Lynn Bode Dunn and her husband, Crae, of Wilmington, N.C.; his four sons, William H. Bode and his wife, Liz, of Beaumont, Texas, Robert C. Bode and his wife, Julie, and James M. Bode and his wife, Jeanie, all of Richmond, and John R. Bode and his wife, Mary Beth, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was affectionately known as "Bo" to all of his grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Woody's Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Road, Richmond, on Tuesday, December 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Burial will be private in Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, Va. 23229; to Children Incorporated, 4205 Dover Road, Richmond, Va. 23221; or to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Capitol Place, 1108 East Main St., Suite 1600, Richmond, Va. 23219.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.