Thomas Earl Oden Sr.

Thomas Earl Oden, Sr. known as “Tom Earl”, Mr. Tom, Daddy, Granddaddy, Papa, Uncle Tommy, was born on May 6, 1938 to the late John Archie Oden and Viola Smith Oden in Beaufort County, NC. He entered into eternal rest on January 30, 2021 at 10:22 PM at Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, NC. Although we are in unprecedented times, the family was able to be with him during his last days on earth. Tom Earl attended SW Snowden High School, Aurora, NC. After high school he married Rosa Lee Taylor on June 13, 1957. Then he joined the U.S. Navy in July 1957 until June 18, 1967 Machinist Mate. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Tom Earl was employed with Texas Gulf in Aurora, NC over five years and Texfi Industries Textile Company in New Bern, NC for five years. Then in 1976, he decided to start his own dump truck business, he was owner of Oden & Son Trucking Company and in 1986 he started his logging business. His first employee was Thomas Jr. “Juicy”; he started Juicy driving the dump truck at age sixteen. Even his daughter, Derrell droved one of the dump trucks during summer break from college. He and his son, Juicy worked together for over 25 years until he retired in 2002. After his retirement, he spent his time going to auctions, traveling, working on model cars, and sitting in front of his computer searching on Ebay, Country Boys Auction, Amazon, and watching YouTube. Tom Earl hobbies included collecting “all things”. He loved model cars, trains, & planes. He was an avid collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia, Lionel trains, and countless other items. Tom Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Rosa Lee Oden; his parents, John Archie and Viola Oden and his sibling, Queenie Oden Cutler. Tom Earl is survived by children, daughter, Derrell Oden Sturdivant (Walter) Durham, NC, daughter, Vantonnie Earl Oden-Smith (Kim) Greenville, NC, son, Thomas Earl Oden, Jr. (Vanessa) Edward, NC, son, Robert Lee Oden (Angela) Farmville, NC; brother, Jack L. Oden; sister, Malissa “Dee Dee” Cutler (Charlie); grandchildren, Jonathan Sturdivant, Christopher Smith (Shanice), Mallory Sturdivant, Marcus Oden (Anchell), Michael Oden, Taylor Oden, Jalyn Oden, Dexter Oden, Thomas Von-Austin Oden, Jordan Robert Oden; great-grandchildren, Mya Oden, Kennedy Smith, McKenzie Oden, Emily Oden; brothers-in-law, Donald Cutler, Edward, NC, George Garolds (Dollie) Chicago, IL, James Garolds (Rebecca) Ernul, NC, Robert Garolds (Wanza), New Bern, NC; sisters-in-law, Emily Taylor Carmen, Boston, MA, Evion Garner, Blounts Creek, NC, Doris Humphrey, Raleigh, NC, Annie Lois Garolds, Greensboro, NC; special cousins, Garland Moore, Grant, New Mexico, Raymond Smith, Blounts Creek; special friends, Ed & Denise Davis, David & Serisa Moore, Tim Moore; God-children, Freda Moore, Fannie Shear, Terrani Moore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family members and friends & especially those that lived on “Tuten Road” in Blounts Creek as his next door neighbor or across the road.

Tributes

Thomas Earl Oden Sr.

May 6, 1938 - January 30, 2021