Walter Anthony O’Dell, age 76, born June 10, 1948, in St. Louis, Mo., passed away January 3, 2025, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.
Walter grew up in St. Louis and attended Central High School. He enlisted in the US Navy at a young age and served honorably until his retirement in 1988. While in the Navy, he was a Boiler Technician aboard the USS Roanoke, which as a replenishment tanker, was deployed to support sea operations during the Vietnam War. Walter was a life member of VFW Post 805, where he volunteered with the Honor Guard and Fish Fry Committee. He attended St. Clare Catholic Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister. He enjoyed traveling and sight-seeing, and was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.
He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia O’Dell, nee Salnave, in 2010; his mother Catherine James; siblings William Hyde, Ester Jones, Beverly Keys, and Bernice Henning.
Surviving are his nieces Susan (Dale) Niepoetter of Albers, Ill., and Angela (Kenneth) Brooks of Swansea, Ill., nephews Michael (Rachel) Young of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and Billy (Amanda) Hyde of Wood River, Ill., and sister Robin Hardin of Ky., and other nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations in memory of Walter O’Dell may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: 9:30 – 10:30 am, Thursday, January 9, 2025 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., Shiloh, Ill.
Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 am, Thursday, at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh, Ill.
Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O’Fallon, Ill.
