Howard Franklin Odom Jr.

Howard Franklin Odom, Jr., 72, of Elizabethtown passed away on Thursday, September 5. 2024 while at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan UNC Hospice House in Pittsboro, NC. He was born in Cumberland County on March 19, 1952 the son of the late Howard Franklin Odom, Sr. and Esther Edwards Odom.  

First and foremost, Frankie loved the LORD, and he was a member of the White Lake Baptist Church. He also served as a volunteer firefighter with Station 58 in White Lake where he was also a part of the water rescue team. He also further served the community serving on the zoning board for White Lake. Frankie was a graduate of St. Paul’s High school and later attended Durham Technical Community College where he earned his degree and the skills needed as he became a successful entrepreneur, opening his business Valley Technical Services where he crafted crowns, bridges and veneers for dentists all over the state of North Carolina.

When he was not working, he had a love of spending time with his family and enjoying his passions. He travelled a lot with his wife and family and enjoyed cruising. He attained the level of Carnival Cruise line’s Platinum Membership. When not on a cruise he enjoyed boating, water skiing and tubing while seeing who could hold on the longest, with his family. Movies at the theatre, watching NASCAR or going in person to Darlington, especially with his brother-in-law Tim, cheering for his beloved UNC Tarheels and tinkering in his shop brought him much joy. When his grandchildren got involved in Cub Scouts and up to Boy Scouts, he excelled in helping to get them to the winner’s circle in the pinewood derby.

He was an honorable, intelligent, brilliant-minded role model and teacher who was always able to answer a question or help with any problem and had a way of seeing things from a different point of view. He will be missed, and his memory will be cherished by those who loved and knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife of almost 51 years, Cathy Hall Odom and brother-in-law, Timothy Frush. 

Left to cherish his memory are daughter Amber Odom Austin, grandson Bradan Scott Austin, two sisters, Susan Odom Walters (James) and Jean Odom Culbertson (Ken), sister-in-law Wanda Hall Frush, sister-in-law Connie Hall Williams (Ron), brother-in-law Tommy Hall (Marie) and his special fur companions, Princess Leia, Bella, and Sofie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.