Notes for: John Charles Bodine, Sr.
From Ronny Bodine:
John and Diana Bodine were divorced April 1973 in Los Angeles County.
The Inyo Register (Bishop, Calif.) of 10 Feb 2011.
Burial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Pioneer Cemetery in Bishop for long-time Bishop resident John Charles Bodine, Sr. The Rev. Caddy Jackson will officiate. A memorial service will follow from 1-4 p.m. at the Highlands Mobile Home Park Senior Center in Bishop. Born June 24, 1944 to John A. and Chris T. Bodine in Bell, John died Feb. 2, 2011 at Olive View Hospital in Sylmar. He was 66. Born and raised in Southern California, John went to school in Bell and later graduated from Saugus High School. He was a gentle boy and an avid Scouter; he loved being outdoors. He also loved music, and he loved it loud. He first started playing the accordion, moved to the tuba and settled on the stand-up double-bass that he played in the school orchestra. He went on to serve in a variety of jobs from drilling wells to delivering Hostess snacks, tending bar for many an air-traffic controller near LAX to managing a major supermarket. He also sold real estate and used cars. It was during his stint as a car salesman that he was in a major accident that caused life-long back pains. He would marry Ms. Agua Dulce, Diana Mae Boston, in 1962. His first son was born in 1966, John Charles, Jr. (or Charlie, as he was called because there are a lot of Johns in this family); Michael James (Mike) would follow in 1970. In the summer of 1982, after years of coming here on vacation, he moved the family to Bishop. He and his father bought and operated West Line Texaco and Hi-Mountain Rentals in Bishop for years. Shortly after moving to Bishop, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. John worked to make her life as fulfilled and comfortable as possible. There were endless trips out-of-town for treatments, mountains of hospital bills all while trying to keep the family business afloat. Diana would fight the disease for more than 10 years before succumbing in 1992. John was a bit of a loner but had a dry sense of humor and wit. He also had a love for reading as his home is full of packed book shelves. He would tell everyone he met how proud he was of his children and grandchildren. His love for them was undeniable. John suffered from a variety of health problems during the last years of his life. In the end, he wanted nothing but peace - something that no one or thing could give him. We hope you are at peace now, Dad, that's all any of us ever want. John was preceded in death by his father, John A. Bodine; and his wife, Diana Mae Bodine. He is survived by his mother, Chris Bodine of Bishop; sons, Mike of Bishop and Charlie of Agua Dulce; sister and brother-in-law, Terry and Jim Pledger of Newhall; grandchildren, Diana Margaret-Elyse Bodine, John Charles "J.C." Bodine, III, Sara Peterson, Jonathon Sagan and Megan Olson; along with many other family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First 5 Inyo County and its "Reach Out and Read" program that supplies young children with books to help them learn to read. Call First 5 at (760) 873-6453 or e-mail to jveenker@inyocounty.us to make a donation.