Obituary of Ward Dodson

Ward Dodson, age 92, of Broken Bow, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at his home. He was born March 28, 1922, the son of Fred and Edna Ward Dodson in Hinton, OK. He was united in marriage to Gerry DeSpain on March 28, 1947. They shared 67 years of joys and sorrows. Ward was a veteran of World War II and served as a radio operator on transport planes in the Pacific Theatre. He flew many missions across the Himalayan Mountain range from China to India and back. So many planes were lost on that flight route that it was called the “Aluminum Trail”. He told many interesting stories of his relationship with the Chinese and Indian people. He loved southern gospel singing. He sang in several quartets and with groups in church. He was a member of the First Assembly of God in Broken Bow where he served as a greeter for many years, a ministry he loved. He worked as a Driver’s License Examiner with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety for 21 years. He served five counties in southeastern Oklahoma and made many lifetime friends in this area. Everywhere he went people would recognize him from taking their driver’s test many years ago. Ward was an avid gardener and spent many enjoyable hours in his garden. He loved sharing his produce with others and was usually in competition with others, especially Dewayne Clay. He had many interests: hunting, fishing, photography, calligraphy, song writing and singing. Ward was teased a lot about his strong hand shake which never weakened throughout his serious illness. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Freda Nance and Chloe Shaw; two sons, Randy Dodson and Douglas Dodson. Ward is survived by his wife, Gerry, of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Robert Cheek of Broken Bow; daughter-in-law, Susan Dodson of Durant, OK; twelve grandchildren; twenty-nine great grandchildren; two nephews and two nieces; other relatives and a host of friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2014 at the First Assembly of God Church in Broken Bow. A private burial will follow. Public viewing will begin on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Bunch-Singleton Funeral Home in Broken Bow, OK. The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 4, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bunch-Singleton Funeral Home in Broken Bow, OK. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Convoy of Hope, P.O. Box 219368, Kansas City, MO 64121-9368, donate.convoyofhope.org or to ADF, 15100 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, alliancedefendingfreedom.org. Ward will be missed by those who knew and loved him but our faith in Christ assures us that we shall meet again in that place where sickness and death will have no entrance.