WILLIAM LEE ODOM

WILLIAM LEE ODOM  
William Lee "Bill" Odom, 62, formerly of Annandale, VA and Nashville, TN, passed away October 18, 2014 in Flagstaff, AZ. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday November 3 at Chapelwood Funeral Home, Texarkana, TX.  Bill was born November 23, 1951 in Texarkana, TX. His family moved to Sulphur Springs, TX in 1960. After graduating from Sulphur Springs (TX) High School in 1970, Bill served in the United States Navy. In 1973, he graduated from the Stenograph Institute of Texas and began his lifelong career as a court reporter. In 1984, he won the National Shorthand Reporters Association National Speed Contest. Bill's career included stints with several firms and founding Baron Reporting Service in Oklahoma City with his mother, Ruth Odom. His career was distinguished by almost twenty years as a reporter for the U.S. House of Representatives, culminating with being named Deputy Chief Reporter in September 2005, a position he held until his retirement in July 2013. Bill is survived by his three children, John Lee (Los Angeles, CA), Benjamin J. (Syracuse, NY) and Caitlin (Annandale, VA), who were the pride of his life. He is also survived by his brother J.C. Odom (Vickie) and sisters Beverly Elving (Erik) and Cynthia, along with many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents John Lee and Ruth Odom, brother John Mark Odom, and grandparents James Marion and Lillian Odom and Floyd and Velva Walker. In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of Bill's lifelong love of baseball and compassion for young people, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, 1500 S. Capitol S.E., Washington, DC 20003, where they will be used for the Youth Baseball Academy.