Kenneth (Ken O'Dell |
| Posted 2016-02-18 by Sharla |
| Norvel Owens Mortuary, Flagstaff, Arizona Kenneth O'Dell (December 16, 1929 - February 10, 2016) U.S. Veteran Kenneth D. O’Dell, 86, died on February 10, 2016. He was born on December 16, 1929 in Liberty, Missouri. Upon graduation from Liberty High School he worked with his father for a year as an auto mechanic in O’Dell’s Garage before attending Northwest Missouri State University as a math major. Knowing he would be drafted into the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1950. After four years of service, he attended the University of Central Missouri switching his major from math to physics. He received a BS in physics. Due to the influence of his professors he then went on to the University of Missouri at Columbia where he completed a PhD in Physics. Dr. O’Dell was a Physics professor at Northern Arizona University from 1967-1987. His love of science and hiking in the Grand Canyon inspired him to initiate an air quality research project in the early seventies. It was the first study of its kind to understand the causes and origins of haze in the Grand Canyon and Colorado Plateau in general. This research was the inspiration for much of the visibility protection in place across the country today. Ken built his own home. He enjoyed it so much that upon retirement he assisted his brother-in-law and his two sisters with the building of their homes. In addition, he helped other family members with remodeling and renovating their homes. Ken also volunteered at both the Pioneer Historical Museum and the Fort Tuthill Military Museum. His curiosity about everything recently led him to research, hike, and map the old logging railroad lines that ran throughout the Flagstaff area. Ken was a life-long gardener who could grow anything, even in our adverse climate with its short growing season. Witness the walnut trees he grew from nuts he carried here from West Virginia and planted in the median on Gillenwater Drive. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Edith O’Dell, four older brothers, Norman, Howard B., Cecil, and Harold. He is survived by his wife, Carol, three younger sisters, Charlene, Janice and Sharron, and numerous nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, www.tucsonhistoricdepot.org or to Fort Tuthill Military Museum, www.forttuthill.org. Condolences may be left for the family at www.norvelowensmortuary.com. ‘Hey ol’ man! Hope you’re up there hiking with Tigger, Blue, Tessie, and Azzie.” |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?