He was instrumental in founding the Atascadero Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial basis and the development of the monument
ATASCADERO — It was becoming that family and friends gathered in entrance of the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial on Friday to have fun the life U.S. Navy World Battle II veteran LeRoy S. (Ted) Dodge.
Dodge was remembered as a patriotic, hard-working and loving husband, father, and grandfather, who wore many hats and was a fan of the San Francisco Giants.
Dodge, a 1945 Atascadero Excessive Faculty graduate, was instrumental in founding the Atascadero Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial basis and the development of the monument itself.
Dodge was 93 when he handed away March 30 after struggling a stroke and coronary heart assault in early March. Dodge was buried at Pine Mountain Cemetery in Atascadero. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, a public memorial was scheduled for later when tips have been relaxed to permit for bigger gatherings.
Photographs by Brian Williams
Almost 100 individuals attended Friday’s almost two-hour army ceremony that was led by his son, Fred Dodge, and per his needs, included his grandchildren. Fred donned a number of of his father’s hats all through the ceremony.
On Veterans Day in 2019, former Atascadero Mayor and one other Faces of Freedom Founder, Tom O’Malley offered Dodge with a framed photograph of the Faces of Freedom Memorial through the ceremony and honored Dodge because the Distinguished Veteran of the 12 months.
A local of Fargo, N.D., Dodge was born in February of 1927. He moved together with his household to Atascadero and graduated from Atascadero Excessive Faculty in 1945 through an early enlistment within the U.S. Navy. After graduating from boot camp and radio faculty, Dodge was assigned to a Patrol Craft Escort as a radioman, Third class, and was off to battle on the Pacific entrance in WWII.
Dodge married his highschool sweetheart and neighbor Peggy Simpson in March of 1947, and so they had 4 sons collectively whereas dwelling in Atascadero between 1947 and 1951. Peggy and LeRoy have been married for 73 years. All 4 of their sons — Fred, Dave, Invoice and Rick — have been capable of attend the Veterans Day ceremony to see their father honored.
After his time in service, he labored within the poultry processing enterprise for the following 33 years. He managed poultry processing crops and feed mills in Atascadero, Modesto, Dinuba and Santa Ynez earlier than shifting his household to Valley House in 1961. There he transitioned to promoting, constructing, restoring and putting in poultry processing gear all through the Western United States.
In 1978, he started constructing his Mountain Ranch dwelling, shortly after that establishing the Calaveras Software Tools rental enterprise. From 1994 till early 2020, he made wine and olive oil show containers for California wineries and olive oil distributors. His household was tremendously blessed by his unbelievable woodworking abilities, farming abilities and wonderful generosity.
Dodge was a member of the Farm Bureau, VFW Publish 2600 and the St. Matthews Episcopal Church in San Andreas.
Dodge is survived by his spouse, Peggy, brother, Jim, sons, Fred (Kathy), Dave (Peggy), Invoice (Mary), and Rick (Charlotte), 11 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
All the grandchildren recalled the nice reminiscences they’ve from spending your entire summer time between their eighth-grade and freshman 12 months on both Valley House or Mountain Ranch with their grandparents.
The Central Coast Leatherneck Colour Guard did the Rendering of Navy Honors.
Sean and Linda Dodge led the gang within the singing of three hymns, concluding with the service with “Wonderful Grace.”
Rick Dodge learn the obituary and Invoice Dodge delivered the eulogy. Son Dave Dodge and grandchildren, Marcie Gregory, Heather Bahne, and Tim Dodge, provided scripture readings that reminded them of LeRoy and fond reminiscences of the household’s patriarch. Sean Dodge stuffed in for grandchild Lila Thullen, who was unable to make the service.
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Getting by way of this collectively, Atascadero
