Lester Herman Dodds

Lester H. Dodds, 90, of Ottumwa passed away Monday morning, July 28, 2014, at Hospice of Davis and Wapello Counties. Lester Herman Dodds, son of Roy and Edith (Tillison) Dodds, was born, May 26, 1924, in Burlington, IA. As a teenager, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps. He married Betty Jean Garrett in 1942 and they settled in Oskaloosa where Lester worked for Monarch Laundry. They later moved to Ottumwa where he initially worked at Goodyear managing the gas island and installing tires. His next job was with Atomic Pest Control where he worked 10 years. He then took a construction job where he worked building the foundation for the Alcoa plant. In 1962 the family moved to western Illinois where he took a job as an industrial truck driver at the John Deere Harvester Plant in East Moline, IL. Betty passed away in October 1967. Lester was blessed to find love a second time marrying Donna D. Maxted Halblom, December 29, 1967, at the Lutheran Church in Moline, IL. While still working at John Deere, Lester purchased a family recreational facility. After he retired from Deere in 1986, he continued to operate the facility for several years. Lester and Donna returned to Ottumwa in 2007. Lester was a man of many interests. Early on, he loved dirt track car racing. Later in life, he enjoyed traveling. He helped to build and roof several buildings for the Ottumwa Izaak Walton League. Lester was also active with the Ottumwa Community Players assisting in design and production. He was a deputized member of the DNR and served on the Wapello County Conservation Commission. In his later years, Lester was a member of the Senior Citizens Group in Geneseo, IL, where he served on the board and will be remembered as being very helpful in the kitchen. He was also active with the Erie Senior Citizens Group in Erie, IL. Lester’s family includes his wife of 47 years, Donna Dodds of Ottumwa; his son and daughter-in-law, Kendall Ray and Marilyn Dodds of Des Moines, two step-children and their spouses: David J. and Susan Halblom Sr. of Des Moines, and Diane K. (Halblom) and Robert Todd of Ottumwa; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and 17 step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and his first wife, Betty Jean, Lester was preceded in death by his step-mother, Irene Dodds. Funeral services for Lester will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 31, 2014, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, IA, with Pastor Phil Griffith of Faith Baptist Church of Ottumwa officiating. Burial will be at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, IA. The family will be present to greet friends and relatives from 9:30 a.m. to service time on Thursday morning. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. PDF Printable Version

Lester Herman Dodds

July 28, 2014 - July 28, 2014