Gene Taylor Dodd

Gene Taylor Dodd, 73, of Bridgeport, passed away at his home on Tuesday afternoon, December 3, 2024. He was born in Maysville, KY on March 9, 1951, a son of the late Gene Austin Dodd and Phyllis Wallingford Dodd.
He is survived by his son, Gene W. (G.W.) Dodd; his daughter, Abby (Dodd) Davis and her husband Sam, all of Bridgeport; his granddaughters, Abigail Davis, a student at WVU; Ava Davis of Bridgeport; his grandson, Ashton Davis of Bridgeport; his sister Janice (Dodd) Schultz and her husband Gary of Bridgeport; his brother, Gary Dodd and his wife Amy (Reep) Dodd of Bridgeport; his sister-in-law, Stephen's widow, Heide Dodd of Stuart, FL; 10 nieces and nephews; and 14 great-nieces and nephews, and his favorite companion, his German Shepherd, Lucy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the mother of his children and former wife, Melissa Stout Dodd; and his brother Stephen Dodd.
Gene was a graduate of Bridgeport High School, Class of 1969, and attended Potomac State College from 1969 – 1971. He graduated from Fairmont State College in 1974 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. He was a life-long member of Bridgeport United Methodist Church.
After graduating from college, Gene owned and operated one bar, Dr. John's, in Morgantown, WV, and Northwood Supper Club near Maple Lake in Bridgeport.
Gene was a hard worker and had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He decided to leave the restaurant/bar business and go into the asphalt paving business. In 1978, Gene, along with his brother Steve (Stephen) Dodd, began Dodd General Contractors. They began the business going door to door asking residents if they needed any gravel or asphalt work on their driveways.
Also, Gene's youngest brother, Gary Dodd, worked alongside his older brothers and helped run Dodd General Contractors. Through blood, sweat, and tears Gene and his brother Steve built up their paving business and did paving contract work throughout North Central WV from the Ohio River area east to the Mountain counties of WV. They even owned and operated their own asphalt plant on the banks of the Ohio River in the late 1990s/early 2000s. He owned and operated Dodd General Contractors until he retired in 2018.
Gene was an avid amateur Civil War historian. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Civil War in general and specifically the Civil War in WV. He enjoyed trips to Civil War Battlefields. Every year he took his children to the Gettysburg Battlefield to explore and instill in them his love of history.
His favorite location to visit was Key West, Florida. He worked hard all year long so that he could spend his winters in Key West. Gene's favorite spot in Key West was Sloppy Joe's bar. Gene went to Key West for over 25 years. He frequented Sloppy Joe's every night during his trips, so much so that all of the staff knew and loved Gene. He was a Sloppy Joe's bar fixture.
Gene's greatest loves were his children, grandchildren, his son-in-law, Sam Davis, the 4th of July, and his house that he designed and built himself. Most evenings you would find Gene sitting on his front porch at his high-top table, feeding the wild deer and turkeys on his property, watching the sunset behind the hills, and enjoying a nice cold beer.
Those who knew Gene T. Dodd never forgot him. He was his own man and his own character. A type of man someone does not forget. Gene was strong-willed and stubborn, but lovable. Gene lived his life by his own rules, and he did until the day he died. One of his favorite sayings to friends and family was, "What's wrong with ya?" This meant grab a beer and let's talk about the events of the day and of the world.
When he passed, his family, his friends, Bridgeport, WV, and Key West, Florida lost one of its most interesting and independent people. Gene is now with his brother and best friend Steve, enjoying the warmth of a Key West sunset and the cool and refreshing taste of a beer. Cheers!
Gene's family would also like to thank his caregivers, Rhonda Vincent, Stephanie Montgomery, and Becky McAtee. Not only did they give Gene superb care, but they also became part of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer's Association West Virginia Chapter, P.O. Box 18485, South Charleston, WV 25303.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Monday from 4-8 p.m., where services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, with Reverend Dr. Matthew Paugh presiding. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.
Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport