Notes for: William 'Woodrow' Bodine, Sr.
Brooke Bodine says that her grandfather, this William, was one of the soldiers who raised the flag on Iwa Jima. He took part in the actual raising, then he sat down for a rest. A photographer came along and wanted the scene to be recreated. Someone else took William's place in the second photo; so he ended up in the photo instead of William. As of February 19, 2001, William was the last one living who took part in the actual raising of the flag.
From Ronny Bodine:
Lillian is the daughter of Felix Frederick and Emilie "Millie" (Pavilica) Pavlas with whom she was living, aged 7, in Hill County, Texas in April 1930.
Obituary, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times of 30 Sept 1997.
Lillian Bodine died Sept. 27, 1997. She was 75. Survivors include her husband, William; two daughters, Sharon Casady and Lori Anderson, both of Corpus Christi; three sons, Shawn Bodine of Salt Lake City, Woody and Leland Bodine, both of Corpus Christi; two sisters, Karolyn Kelinske of Corpus Christi and Helen Mynar of Abbott; and 14 grandchildren. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sept. 30 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park.
Obituary, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times of 12 Aug 2008.
William Woodrow Bodine, 86, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2008. He was born in Coolidge, Texas and lived a life full of adventure, hardships and accomplishments. His mother passed away when he was 6, and he didn't get to attend school past the sixth grade. At 14, he ran away from home and found work on a farm, and at 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served valiantly during World War II. He was an Iwo Jima survivor who helped raise the first flag before the infamous photo was taken during the second flag raising. Upon his return from service, he met and married the beautiful Lillian Marie Pavlas. While they raised five children, William became a prominent businessman in Corpus Christi, as the founder/owner of Bodine Electric Co. and the co-owner/founder of Bodine -Scott Air Conditioning. He was dedicated to providing for his family. William's hobby was working, and his greatest enjoyment came from ranching. He owned numerous ranches in Texas and worked cattle for many years. At the age of 50, William was in a tragic auto accident that left him unconscious for eight weeks, but being a fighter, he survived when he wasn't expected to live. During the last eleven years of his life, William missed his dear wife immensely and endured health issues, which he rarely complained about. He approached these final years with the same determination and stubbornness he had exhibited all his life, but he also developed a gentleness in spirit. He greeted visitors with a smile and sparkling blue eyes, and he loved to laugh with the staff who worked where he lived, first at Holmgreen, and then at Tri-Sun. He left his children and grandchildren with a legacy of courage and tenacity. He will be missed. William was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Pavlas Bodine; his parents, Samuel Perry Bodine and Madgelina (Lena) Aldridge; brothers Joe Paul Bodine and Durwood Bodine; sister Jeanelle Harrison; and grandson, Leland Bodine, Jr. He is survived by three sons: Woody Bodine, Jr. (Jeanne), Shawn Bodine (Terrie) and Leland Bodine, Sr. (Sharon); two daughters, Sharon Casady and Lori Anderson (Donny); two brothers, Jay Fayne Bodine and Sammy Bodine; a sister, Dorothy Sturm; ten grandchildren, Sheree Naugle, Brian Bodine, Renee McDugall, Dawn Cramer, Cole Casady, Shane Casady, Angela DuBose, Alisha Bodine, Brooke Bodine and Andreas Mourelatos; and four great-grandchildren, Casady and Ryder Cramer, and Bella and Baron DuBose. The family would like to extend their heart-felt gratitude to each and every caregiver that touched William's life. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening at the Maxwell P. Dunne Chapel. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at Maxwell P. Dunne Chapel. Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
From: brooke bodine [brooke2150 at yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008
Subject: RE: Brooke Alyson Bodine
Also my Grandpa died a couple of months ago. Here is his obituary. It includes the date of his death...
William Bodine dead at age 86
Family members will remember former prominent Corpus Christi business man William W. Bodine for his hard work ethic. Bodine died Saturday at a local retirement home at the age of 86. Bodine suffered from diabetes and congestive heart failure, family members said Tuesday during a visitation for him. Bodine, who founded Bodine Electrical and Air Conditioning before it merged into Bodine-Scott Air Conditioning on July 15, 1961, is a former Marine who served in World War II. He helped raise the first U.S. flag at Iwo Jima before the historic picture of the second flag raising on Mount Suribachi was taken Feb. 23, 1945. Bodine also earned a Purple Heart after being shot in the leg while at Iwo Jima. Upon his return from the service, Bodine married his wife, Lillian -- who died in 1997 -- and went into business in Corpus Christi. Bodine's daughter in law Terrie Bodine said he even made his own house calls while working for his air conditioning business, which is still in existence on Bear Lane. Shawn Bodine -- one of Bodine's five children -- described his father as "a very hard-working and ambitious man." "He worked pretty much seven days a week," Shawn said. "We called him an entrepreneur -- he did everything." That included being a former area hotel owner, bank director and rancher. "He always helped the people that worked for him," Shawn said. "If someone needed money, he would give it to them or give them a job or help them another way." Bodine is survived by his three sons, Woody Bodine Jr., Leland Bodine Sr. and Shawn, and two daughters, Sharon Casady and Lori Anderson. He also has two brothers, Jay Fayne Bodine and Sammy Bodine, a sister Dorothy Sturm and 10 grandchildren.