George Dodd

George Vernon Dodd, 97, of Battle Creek, died Sunday, August 16, 2017 in Battle Creek surrounded by his son Gary and Heartland staff.  George was born on Sept. 3, 1919 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the son of the late Elmer Dodd and Mabel Sindahl.  George was a graduate of Proviso High School in Maywood, IL.  He served his country as Petty Officer in the Navy during WW II as a radar instructor. Following the war, George graduated from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. He raised chickens to help earn his way through college & supplement his GI Bill. Upon graduation, he worked at Kellogg’s in food processing engineering until his retirement in 1983.  During this time, he earned his Professional Engineer credential and traveled to England, Africa, Mexico, and Canada to design and install food-processing equipment. He was in the American Society of Engineers.

Together with some fellow engineers, George was a member of the K-10 Investment Club that studied and invested in stocks. He was also active in the Battle Creek Engineers Club and played on the company softball team. With his children, he was involved with Indian Guides, Little League Baseball, Scouts, and served as the President of the Washington School PTA.

George loved to travel to places beyond his work that included most of the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and the Holy Land.  He saw much of the US, Alaska and Canada from his motor home. Riding shotgun was his poodle Opie much of the time. His hobbies were bike riding, cross country skiing, hiking, golf, boating, water skiing, board games, Bridge, camping, lapidary art and tinkering with projects.  He built a tree house for Vern’s children and wheelchair ramp for his grandson recovering from injury. In addition to his parents, his older brother Newton preceded him in death. His first wife of 42 years, Marilyn Johnson, and his second wife of 20 years, Mary Orns, also predeceased him.  George had four children with his first wife Marilyn Johnson: Rev. Vern Dodd (Kristy) and Gary Dodd (Jean Demro) and two daughters, Dr. Ginny Dodd (Fan Watson) and Mary Klotz (Gary).  Also from his first marriage are 7 grandchildren: Chris Dodd (Yuko), Jennifer Dodd, Jeremy Dodd, Trevor Dodd (Alexis), Emma Dodd (Ben Goforth), Erika Klotz (Omar Perez) and Andrea Klotz (Tim Roman). He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren, Anderson Roman, Sophy Kameguchi Dodd, Matilda Roman and Jax Dodd. With his second wife, Mary Orns Dodd, George gained three stepchildren, Shirley Pearce, Beverly Day (deceased) and Jim (Michelle) Orns, as well as seven step-grandchildren, Kim Winfrey, Lori (Ron) VanRyswyk, Jack Day, Jill (Jerry) Parsons, Michelle (Kevin) Thompson, Brad Orns, and Angie (Joe) O’Brien, and numerous step-great and great-great grandchildren.  A funeral service to celebrate George’s life will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, August 21, 2017 at Pennfield Presbyterian Church followed by interment at Battle Creek Memorial Park Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church from 9:30-10:20 AM on Monday with the funeral following at 10:30. Memorials may be sent to Pennfield Presbyterian Church, 7979 St. Mary’s Lake Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49017 or Kambly Living Center, 1003 North Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017. Arrangements are in the care of Richard A. Henry Funeral Home and Cremation Services www.henryfuneralhome.org