Joseph Dodds Obituary

Major General Joseph B. Dodds passed away on October 14, 2009. General Dodds was born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, January 12, 1924. The Dodds family moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1929. The year 1942 brought his graduation from University High School in Eugene. He met his future wife, Bobbie Jean, while in junior high school, a relationship that ultimately led to 61 years of marriage. World War II impacted the lives of all young men, and Joseph entered the Army Air Force aviation cadet training program in 1943, earning his pilot wings in June 1944. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and became a reserve instructor pilot at Marfa Army Airfield, Texas. From 1946 to 1951 Lt. Dodds continued flying in the Air Force Reserves concurrently earning a B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon. More importantly, he married Bobbie Jean in the summer of 1948. Lt. Dodds was recalled to active duty in late 1951, and moved with his new bride to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Future tours of duty included McClellan AFB, Ca, Hamilton AFB, Ca, and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. As a major in 1963, Joseph became a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. This was followed by 4 years of service at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. During this assignment he earned his Master's Degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. From 1967 to 1968 Lt. Colonel Dodds served in Vietnam. He logged 255 combat missions and 505 combat flying hours as a flight commander and operations officer at Pleiku Air Base and then Nha Trang Air Base. Upon return to the states, he was stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and then was selected to represent the Air Force as a student at the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Completion of this senior officer schooling brought promotion to Colonel and a move to Colorado in 1969. He became the director of budget and eventually comptroller of ADC while at Ent AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1973 he assumed the dual role of comptroller of ADC and comptroller of the NADC. His performance and leadership brought promotion to Brigadier General and the assumption of new duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, ATC, at Randolph AFB, Texas. General Dodds became Auditor General of the Air Force in 1976, with a promotion to Major General and a move to Norton AFB, California. He retired from active service in June of 1980. Gen. Dodds was a command pilot with 4,534 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. From the Republic of Vietnam he received the Armed Forces Medal of Honor 1st class, Gallantry Cross with palm, and the Air Service Medal Honor Class. Most importantly he was a man of integrity, honor, and conviction. He was steadfast in his love for family and friends. He is greatly missed by his wife, children, extended family, and friends. He is survived by his wife Bobbie Jean, three children: Twyla Hollister, Matthew Dodds, and Rebecca Nilsen, seven grandchildren, and his sister Doris Elmer. Please join us in remembering Major General Joseph B. Dodds by visiting his Memorial at www.mem.com.