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Joseph (Joe) Francis Dodd, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, mentor, Boy Scout leader, a resident of Lynn Haven since 1995, passed away on Tuesday October 24, 2023. He was the son of George Vincent Dodd and Catherine Margaret Coyne Dodd, born March 31, 1932 and raised in Oceanside (Long Island) and Moravia, NY.
Joe graduated from the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (2-year cooperative community college in Binghamton, NY). Prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army Joe worked at Ansco (Binghamton, NY) and Manufactures Light and Heat (Pittsburgh, PA). While in the Army he went through Basic Infantry Training at Camp Pickett, VA and Medical Lab Tech Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX before being posted to the Army hospital in Bad Kreuznack, Germany during the Korean war. While in Germany he was able to travel to other areas within Germany and to other countries with Army buddies on weekend passes & leave. Joe was honorably discharged from the Army as a Corporal and returned to civilian life and a position at Manufactures Light and Heat where he met his future wife Mary Dennise Patterson (they both started work there on the same day). Later Joe completed his education at Clarkson College of Technology (Potsdam, NY) with a Chemical Engineering degree and moved his family to Charleston, WV to work with Union Carbide as a chemical engineer. Joe worked at Union Carbide for 36 years and retired as the Associate Director for the Silicones Operation Team.
Over the course of Joe's career with Union Carbide he was transferred to various locations (Houston, TX - Victoria, TX - Charleston, WV - Metairie, LA - Charleston, WV - Parkersburg, WV and finally back to Charleston, WV) where he lived with his family and enjoyed the adventures that unfolded at each location. Joe's other work travels took him to many cities/countries in the US, Europe and India. All of this moving around and travel gave him a taste for exploring and traveling to other areas within the US and abroad. Joe and Mary enjoyed many trips especially after they retired (visiting many states and 41 countries). After retiring from Union Carbide, Joe and Mary moved to Lynn Haven, FL and Joe worked part time at GAC Contractors and later at ReliantSouth Construction Group.
Joe was a Boy Scout leader, nature lover, writer, enjoyed photography and pursued all his activities with humor and wisdom and gave of himself unselfishly. Joe, with wife Mary and children, enjoyed many activities, including golf, camping, game nights, bird watching, and traveling. Spending time with friends and family was especially important and filled him with many happy memories. He was a caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend with a dry sense of humor, words of wisdom and guidance and a smile for all that knew him. Joe was a true inspiration to all.
Joe was predeceased by his wife Mary Dennise and is survived by daughter Mary Jo Dodd (his loving primary caregiver); two sons: David Dodd (wife, Christina), Richard Dodd (wife, Kim); six granddaughters and five great grandchildren: Nicole Conrad (husband David & children Claire & Charlotte), Stephanie Rodriguez (husband Eddie & children Ezra & Eila), Chelsea Ehalt (husband Adam & son Leo), Courtney Dodd, Katelyn Dodd, and Madeline Dodd.
Joe will be missed by one and all. He left his mark on the world and will not be forgotten.
A private graveside service will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Audubon Society (https://act.audubon.org/a/memorial-gift) or to Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, 3128 East 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 (850-763-0475 – Please indicate "Panama City Food Bank" in the memo section.