To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 1/1/21 • Approved: 1/1/21 • Last Updated: 1/4/21 • R1357989-G0-S3
AIRMAN US Navy
May 30, 1935 - May 20, 2014
*Garden of Pines
(See Veteran marker)
*Obituary Texarkana Funeral Home
James Harold Odom of Farmington, Arkansas, departed this earth for his heavenly home on May 20, 2014, to be reunited with our Lord. He was born May 30, 1935, a son of Willie and Pauline Odom, in Cass County, Texas.
James graduated from Arkansas High School in 1954 where he excelled in football and basketball and occasionally in academics. His athletic prowess set many state records of that era. He attended Hardin Simmons University, in Abilene, Texas, on a football and basketball scholarship from 1954 to 1955. Afterwards, James decided to continue his athletic career in the Navy and was stationed among several west coast bases, but primarily Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA. There James added baseball to his sports achievement and was one of the more prolific pitchers in the armed services.
James and Sylvia Metts married in 1959 in Texarkana AR and resided there off and on until 1999 when they moved to Farmington, 2 miles from the home of the Razorbacks. There he was able to follow his passion rooting for his favorite team and had season tickets to every sporting event. Although he never achieved this award in school, he was honored for his perfect attendance at Razorback sporting events. He was an avid member of the Swatter's Club, supporting Razorback baseball, where he was named fan of the year in 2012.
James' career spanned 25 years with Greyhound Bus Lines. He was elected vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union where he supported members of 13 states in the central US. He retired in 1991 and founded his own travel agency, Jo/An Tours. There he mixed the experiences from his driving career with his passion for traveling and meeting and entertaining people.
He was a former member of Beech Street Baptist Church, of Texarkana AR and a longtime member of Cross Church of Springdale AR.
James was preceded in death by his parents, nephew Chris Phillips, and niece Lisa Phillips. He is survived by his loving wife and caretaker of 55 years Sylvia Metts Odom of Farmington AR; sisters Joyce Thompson and her husband Bobby of Summerville TX, Margaret Phillips of Dallas TX; brothers Travis Odom and his wife Dona of Texarkana AR, Eddie Odom and his wife Mary of Carrollton TX, Tim Odom and his wife Sharon of Collinsville OK; brother/sister-in-laws Athel Metts and his wife Mary Lou of North Oaks MN, David "Buddy" Metts and his wife Mary Hellen of Midland TX; son Tony Odom of San Jose CA, daughter Niki Slinkard and her husband Cliff of Hogeye AR; grandchildren, Nicolas Slinkard, Samantha Odom, Savannah Slinkard, Jessica, Taylor, and Lou Odom.
With too many stories to share in writing, the family invites you to join them to share memories and reminisce.
Visitation will be 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2014, at the Texarkana Funeral Home, 4801 Parkway Drive, Texarkana AR 71854.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Texarkana Funeral Home, officiated by James' brother Tim Odom and lifelong friend Bob Lee of Wichita Falls TX. Interment will follow at East Memorial Gardens in Texarkana.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations to the Washington Regional Hospice, 34 W. Colt Square, Suite 1, Fayetteville AR 72703, or the charity of your choice.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the Cardiac Unit of the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville AR, as well as special caretaker, Lorena Galvez of Fayetteville AR.
If there were only three words that could describe James Odom, "He loved People."
Contributed on 1/1/21 by MryAl8
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1357989