Paul H. O'Dell Jr.'s Obituary
Paul H. O’Dell, Jr. was born on January 10, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to Paul H. O’Dell, Sr. and Effie Nanstiel O’Dell. After completing every assignment he knew to be given him by his Lord Jesus Christ, he passed away on July 13, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas.
In 1949, he married Virginia Dale Snyder of Terrell, Texas. They were married for 59 years until she passed away in Clearwater, Florida in 2009. Paul joined the Army in 1944 and maintained active reserve service until 1959. He graduated from Garland, Texas high school in 1944, and from SMU in 1950. Paul began his long-term career with Banker’s Life Co., now Principle Financial Group in Dallas and retired in 1989 as their Regional Director (home mortgages) for the State of Florida. In 2010 he relocated to San Antonio to be near his children. After retirement Paul served in jail and prison ministry for 22 years, as Bible teacher and counselor.
He is survived by three children, son James Paul (Jim) O’Dell of St. Petersburg Florida, daughter Laurie Sliz of Boerne, Texas, and son Robert (Bob) O’Dell and his spouse Marisa of Austin, Texas, four grandchildren, Hanna Sliz, Michael Sliz, Kristen O’Dell Barr, and Allison O’Dell, and many other loving family members including nieces and nephews, their spouses, and two sisters-in-law. A graveside service will be held at 10am July 18, at Restland Memorial in Dallas; a memorial service will be held at 2:30pm July 26 at Grace Bible Chapel, 18911 Redland Rd, San Antonio.
Paul wants to be remembered for loving the Lord Jesus and the joy he had in serving all those the Lord loves. His family agrees, and admires his immediate friendliness to everyone, his innumerable encouragements and prayers in every and all situations, and his inclination to steer his own words away from himself, to the greatest of all hopes, the Lord Jesus Christ. Memorial gifts may be sent to Grace Bible Chapel, P.O. Box 592256, San Antonio, TX 78259.
What’s your fondest memory of Paul?
What’s a lesson you learned from Paul?
Share a story where Paul's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Paul you’ll never forget.
How did Paul make you smile?