Edwin “Ed” Nelson Dodd Jr.

February 15, 1936-March 22, 2015

Edwin “Ed” Dodd Jr. was born in Ft Benning, GA and departed this life in Pasco, WA after a lengthy illness.  He was a long time resident of the Tri-Cities.  Ed’s parents Emma Elvira and Edwin Nelson Dodd Senior preceded him in death.   He is survived by his wife Rogena Sims-Dodd, his brother Charles Wilson Dodd (Panama City, FL), Robert Elvin Dodd (Fairview, TX), John Kenny Dodd (Germantown, TN), David Allen Dodd (Okatie, South Carolina), Sharon Lea Dodd-Upchurch (Duluth, GA) , three children Edwin Nelson Dodd III (Richland, WA), Catherine Dodd-Schumacher (San Diego, CA) and Frank C Dodd (Las Cruces, NM) as well as two step children Jon Davidson (Camden, SC) and Theresa Buckendorf (Kennewick, WA) and  three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.

Ed grew up in a military home.  Ed’s childhood was marked by several moves to a variety of duty stations.   He graduated from Hampton High School in Hampton, VA. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from The US Military Academy at West Point and earned a Master’s Degree in Physics from the University of Tennessee.  He also graduated from the US Army’s Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth, KS.

Ed enlisted in the US Army on September 9, 1953.  He served in a variety of duty assignments including service in the Vietnam War, Panama, Korea, Los Alamos Labs and White Sands Missile Range.  While serving his country he earned several decorations including the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service medal, The Legion of Merit, Airborne Qualification medal, Jungle Expert Qualification, two Meritorious Service medals, three Army Commendation Medals and numerous Good Conduct medals. He retired from the army in 1979 after rising to the rank of Lieutenant Coronial.    Following his retirement from the army Ed served in the field of nuclear cleanup and other related areas of service for 20 years at the Hanford site.

Ed was a member of several organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Officers Association of America, the Retired Officers Association, West Point Society of Puget Sound, the Health Physics Society as well as many other professional associations.  He served on Project Honor and was a member of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church. 

In addition to his many professional and military accomplishments Ed was a great story teller as well as an avid runner, swimmer and diver.  He will be remembered for being a loving husband, a faithful and diligent person who was also gentle and had a contagious laugh.

A memorial and internment will be held at a future date at the Military Academy at West Point.  In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy and Hospice.