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T. Dodson Obituary
DANVILLE, Va. - The Honorable T. Ryland Dodson, 84, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, at Danville Regional Medical Center, after a decline in health since December 2005.Born March 31, 1922, in Ringgold, he was the son of the late Alvin Bernice Dodson and Irene Clements Dodson.
He was educated in the public schools of Pittsylvania County. He served as Staff Sgt. in the 30th Infantry Division during World War II. He received a Bachelor of Arts and Law degree from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He began the practice of law in Danville in 1947, in partnership with Clinton Fowler. He was appointed associate judge of the Municipal court of Danville in 1958. In 1978 he was elected judge of the General District Court for the 22nd Judicial district. He retired from this position on Feb. 3, 1998, and continued as a substitute judge throughout the commonwealth of Virginia until fall 2005.
He was a long-time member of Ringgold Baptist Church and was currently a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday school and was an elder. Over the years, he was active in community affairs and a member of numerous civic organizations. Until his passing, he was an active member of the Danville Lions Club.
He was formerly married to Dorothy Didlake and later to the late Beverly Babcock.
He is survived by his wife, Inara Aster Dodson; three daughters, Dr. Amy Spencer Dodson of Wytheville, Va., Joyce Dodson Pinekenstein of Great Mills, Md., and Linda Dodson Williams of Chesterfield, Va.; a stepson, Dr. Steven Gross of Tucson, Ariz.; two brothers, Alvin Bruce Dodson and Roger Clements Dodson, both of Ringgold; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In addition to his former wife, he was predeceased by a sister, Cornelia Dodson Fowlkes.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 8 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Carl Burger and the Rev. Bob Knowles officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Burial Park with military honors to be given by American Legion Dan River Post 1097.
The family will receive friends at Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, on Monday, August 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times they will be at the residence, 143 Sheffield Drive.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Danville Life Saving Crew, 202 Christopher Lane, Danville, VA 24541; the Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department, 3880 Tom Fork Road, Ringgold, VA 24586, or the Danville Cancer Association, 2323 Riverside Drive, Danville, VA 24540.
Townes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for T. Dodson
Arlene Creasy
August 19, 2006
Ina,
Judge Dodson was a wonderful person. He always had that wonderful smile and a kind word. He will be missed by many people
My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
August 10, 2006
Amy and Ina,
Just know we all love you, and are here for you.
Your bonus family
An old friend
August 9, 2006
To the family of Ryland. So sorry to hear of your loss. My sympathy goes out to the entire family. God bless you all.
Gayle Wyatt Plott
August 8, 2006
Ina and Amy, we are sad for you, and we are remembering what a wonderful gentleman Judge Dodson was. Kind to all who knew him, and will always be held close in heart and mind.
Charles Stone
August 8, 2006
please accept my deepest respect for a life incredibly well lived. Ryland was my freind and fellow jurist for 23 years. i valued his judgement and his high regard for his fellow man. i also well remember Amy from early judicial conferences. Love to all of you.
James Gibson and Jen Krisch
August 8, 2006
WE ARE VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS. JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS.
Liliana Ward
August 8, 2006
To the entire Dodson Family: We are so sorry for your loss. He will be missed terribly. We wish we could be there with you during this difficult time, but know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, the Estevez and Ward families
Jack & Anne Estlow
August 7, 2006
We will certainly miss Ryland. He was a fine gentleman to work for. I respected and honor him for his wisdom and humor. We will keep you and yours in our thoughts and prayers.
Dianne Hairston
August 7, 2006
Joyce, Linda and family: Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. We will miss talking with your Dad and hearing about you and your family at the Judges conference next week.
Your cousin, Dianne Lunsford Hairston and husband, Phillip
denis and francine routhier
August 7, 2006
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help at this time.
Barry & Crystal Hendley
August 7, 2006
We're so sorry to hear about your loss. Please know that your family will be in our thoughts and in our prayers.
Ray Robertson
August 7, 2006
To all of the FamiILY : IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE A FRIEND OF RYLAND. HE WAS A REAL FRIEND AND A PLEASURE TO SHARE TIME WITH OVER THE PAST YEARS. He was always fair and helped so many people. He will be dearly missed be Many.
May God's blessing be with all of you . Most sincerely, Ray and Virginia Robertson, 1051 Briarhurst Dr. , Manchester, Mo. 63021.
Paul Crider
August 7, 2006
My deepest sympathy to Judge Dodson's Family. He befriended me, a stranger to him, when I substituted on several occasions as a retired judge in Danville. He, Inara and Amy were so gracious and kind - even invited me to have several delicious meals prepared by his wife Inara and his daughter Amy. I wish for all of his Family peace and comfort.Sincerely, Paul Crider, Hampton, VA.
Bobbie Tate
August 7, 2006
I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
Marylou Yeatts
August 7, 2006
Dear Ina,
Please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Earline Gosney
August 7, 2006
I've known Ryland for over fifty years, in the capacity of working for him as a court reporter when he practiced law, and later frequently worked in his courtroom. He was a fair, kind and patient judge. I've always had great respect for him in that capacity. In the last two years I've know him through Sunday School, church and church socials and have had so much fun when he was around. He was an interesting person with a sense of humor. My thoughts and prayers are with Ina and the daughters in this difficult time. Ina has been such a faithful and loving companion, never leaving his side through his illness. Ryland will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched.
Marsha Busic
August 7, 2006
Dear Ms. Dodson, Amy and Family.
I am so sorry to hear about Judge Dodson. We have a judges conference coming up next week and I will certainly miss seeing the both of you there. Judge Dodson was such a fine gentleman. He will be sorely missed.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Diane Shelton
August 7, 2006
Dear Inara and Amy,
We were so sorry to hear about Ryland. He provided us with so many happy and fun memories at our "Wednesday Night Suppers." We feel like we have lost a family member, too, since he goes back with Kim and I -- from with our grandfather and father -- from Cain Creek and Tuscarora.
We are so sorry we cannot be there. We are out of town and just heard the news. Please know that our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. May your faith, friends, and memories sustain you.
With much love,
Diane and Kent Shelton
Kim and Robert Clifton
REGINA CALVERT
August 7, 2006
JUST WANTED TO TELL YOUR FAMILY I AMS SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND A VERY WOUNDERFAL PERSON MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS KEEP YOU IN HIS LOVING HANDS REGINA VASSAR CALVERT
Bill & June Wells
August 7, 2006
Ryland was a friend for many years.
We are praying for the family at this time. God Bless all of you.
Lisa Fitzpatrick
August 7, 2006
My Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family of Judge Dodson.
Patricia Hegamyer
August 7, 2006
Deepest Sympathy From Dallas And Judy Brewer And Patricia Hegamyer
(Taylor) Paul And Faye Taylor Richardson (Walton, Dodson)
kelly reavis
August 7, 2006
Inara and Amy-
I'm sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you right now and if you need anything ,please let me know. Ryland was a pleasure to take care of and I send regards from the staff on 4J(med/Oncology)
Kelly Reavis
Dimpal and Mukesh patel
August 6, 2006
Dear Inara and family,
Our heartfelt condolences for your loss. While we are saddened by your loss the only consolation is that he is with God and you were with him when he needed you the most. Please let us know if we can be of any help.
Kristy McGuire
August 6, 2006
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. God bless you.
Joy T Smith
August 6, 2006
Inara & all family, I was saddened to read of Ryland's death. You all have my sympathy. May God sustain each of you at this time.
I have fond memories of Ryland. He was a gentleman, honest & kind.
May HE rest in peace!
August 6, 2006
SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOST,WITH SYMPATHY TO ALL THE FAMILY..
A FRIEND.....
Diane Cox
August 6, 2006
I was very sad to read of his passing today. He was a very kind person. Many times I would stand before him in the courtroom, for the job that I had and found that he was both honest and fair in his rulings. With deepest sympathy to the family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Catherine Clements
August 6, 2006
Dear Family, Our sympathy to all the family. My husband, Thomas Clements, died in June from injuries sustained in an auto accident in the Yukon Territory on his way to Alaska. Thomas and Ryland were first cousins.
Please extend our love and prayers to Bruce and Roger as well as the rest of the family. With love, Catherine Clements
Jack Terry
August 6, 2006
Our prayers are with all of the family
Jack Terry and Ann Terry Ward
Leo Lindquist
August 6, 2006
Farewell, good human being and good friend. Deepest sympathy to Inara, Amy, and all. Leo
Elizabeth Liles
August 6, 2006
No words can express my deepest sympathy in Ryland's passing. I do know however that he is now in perfect health and will be in a place of peace for eternity. He is with our Lord and Saviour in Heaven and it is comforting to know another angel is watching over us. We will not mourn Ryland's passing, but celebrate his new life - one that will be everlasting and without pain and suffering. My deepest love and devotion is extended to his entire family - especially Ina and Amy, who I hold very dear. May God bring us peace and strength.
Shirley and John Primiano
August 6, 2006
Ina, We were so sorry to read about Ryland. Please know that you are in our prayers.
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