Oliver Bodine

Oliver King Bodine

Longtime Rockport resident Oliver King Bodine – usually called King, passed away April 17, 2023, at age 96, his adventurous spirit and zest for life undiminished even when age slowed him down a  bit.

King is predeceased by his mother, Mary Emelia King Bodine and his father Sidney James Bodine as well as his sister Mary Temple Durdin.  King was a widower three times after loving relationships with his first wife Mary Helen Rattikin Bodine, his second wife  Barbara Mae Walter Bodine and his third wife Gail Clara Prater Bodine.

King is survived by his brother, Sidney Bodine as well as his three children, four stepchildren, ten grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. His children are Bradley D. Bodine, Richard Bodine  and wife Mary Love, and Lindy Madill and husband Clint Edward Madill. His stepchildren are Leslie Sowers Gerber and husband Eric, Fred Walter Sowers and wife Tisna VanZanten, Robert Sowers and John Sowers, Patrick Calelly, Steven Calelly and Linda Hedgegood.

His grandchildren are Clint King Madill, Joy Lynn Dolezal, Hank Madill, Leanna Forney Madill, Lindsay Gerber Gonzales, Janelle Sowers, Nicholas Sowers, Victor Sowers, and Philip Sowers, Christopher Smith, Laura Zimmerman, Jerry Smith, Kevin Calelly, Susan Meeks, Mike Calelly and numerous great-grandchildren.

King was born and spent his early years on his grandfather's farm in San Augustine County, Texas.  There he learned how to put a calf in a yoke and plow and all the other chores that he deemed very hard work. His father died when he was  9 and, being the oldest, he worked hard to help shoulder the family responsibilities.

As a young man, he was called to active duty in the Army during World War II, where his military duties included transport on the island of Leyte in the South Pacific where he was stationed.  After the war, he left for Baylor University where he graduated with a degree in chemistry. After graduation, he began his professional career in the oil and gas industry, working for more than 30 years with Phillips  Petroleum.

He found his work challenging and the associated worldwide travel fit well with his openness to new experiences, from the Amazon basin jungle to the deserts of the Middle East. One of his last stops was in Aberdeen and London while supervising the drilling operations in the North Sea. He had a wealth of stories about life in the "oil patch".

In retirement, he continued to draw on his talent for making the most of life.  He enjoyed camping trips in the Rockies, gardening, reading poetry, singing karaoke, and playing dominos when forced by the girls. He wasn't one to pass up any activity proposed by his daughter Lindy or caregivers Amber, Terisa and Jodi.

King was shooting for his 100th birthday and those who have loved him give him an A-plus for his 96 %.  He loved to sing the old favorites from the past and it is highly probable you can now find him "sailing along on Moonlight Bay".

King's military memorial service will be held on May 10th at 11 a.m. Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetary in Corpus Christi.

Online condolences may be left at www.charliemarshallfuneralhomes.com