Obituary of Robert Odum

LEXINGTON:Robert Tracy Odum, 80, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Lexington Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born in Selma, North Carolina and was the son of the late E. Tracy and Melissa Odum. Mr. Odum graduated with honors from NC State University. He was honorably discharged from the US Navy after serving as a sonar specialist aboard the submarine USS Lloyd during the Korean conflict. He was employed by Milliken and IBM before opening a Kwik-Kopy franchise in Columbia. Later, he devoted his time to developing software for the printing industry. He was a member of Northeast Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife Nancy, of Lexington; sons: Robert Tracy Odum, Jr. (Catherine) of Charlotte, NC and Jeffrey Lawrence Odum (Shakira) of Richmond, VA; granddaughters: Jenna, Alice, and Cassie Odum; brother: Daniel C. Odum (Linda) of San Carlos, CA. Mr. Odum was predeceased by his grandson, Zachary Khan Odum; brothers, Wallace and Charles; sisters, Helen and Louise. Bob began singing with his brothers before he could read. He loved singing in church choirs and playing the ukulele (which he taught himself while serving in the Navy). He was an original member of the TuneSpinners Barbershop Quartet. The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Rd (US-1) near Lexington, from 4:00-6:00 PM on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Funeral/Memorial services, in North Carolina, will be announced later. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd - Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621.