Clarence Dodd Obituary

Clarence Dodd, Jr., age 98, of Brookfield, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron.
Funeral services will Monday, July 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Brookfield with Pastor John Wiggans officiating. Burial will be in Park Lawn Cemetery in Brookfield. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
Memorials to the First Christian Church of Brookfield or Brookfield Senior Center may be left at the church or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 649628.
Clarence Jr., son of Clarence Aubrey and Ruth Hannah (Miller) Dodd, was born October 7, 1926, in Brookfield. He was the brother to Kathleen Sumerall.
Clarence was born and raised on a family Century Farm in the South Eagle Community. He spent most of his life on the farm southwest of Brookfield, MO. The farm was purchased originally by the Dodd family in 1868. Clarence attended the South Eagle School, the Forker School and the Brookfield High School for two years. He started his senior year in High School at 15 years of age. He graduated in the BHS class of 1943.
Clarence married Mary Madelyn (Scott) Dodd on December 17, 1949, at the First Christian Church by Rev. William Icenogle of Brookfield, MO. Attendants were Jake Kaye of Sumner, MO and Anita Guyton of New Cambria, MO. They had four children; Gregory David Dodd who married Nancy Jo Beaird in 1973 and on July 2, 2004 he was united in marriage to Connie Kay Clark. Craig Stephen Dodd who married Denise Browning on August 13, 1988, Linda Lee (Dodd) Ewigman who married Mark Ewigman on October 7, 1978, and Alan Lane Dodd who married Dianne Dennison on June 8, 2019.
Clarence later married Doris E. (Clarkson) Ross on May 26, 1978, at the First Christian Church in Brookfield, MO by Rev. William Schleiffarth. Clarence has four step children; Julie (Banning) Davenport, Jamie (Banning) Auch, John Banning and Jim Banning.
The home of Doris and Clarence, located on the farm was struck and burned by lightening on September 7, 1996. They then returned to their home 1301 Crest Road in Brookfield.
Clarence had four grandchildren; Katie Jo (Dodd) Brown and husband Bob, Amy Jo Dodd Brian Ewigman and wife, Sandra, and Eric Ewigman and wife, Christian; six great grandchildren, Garrett, Alex, Madelyn, Adrienne, Ben and baby Ella who rest eternally and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; both spouses, Mary Madelyn (Scott) Dodd and Doris E. (Clarkson) Ross Dodd; one son, Greg Dodd; and son-in-law, Mark Ewigman; one great grand baby, Ella Ewigman and one stepson, John Banning.
Clarence enlisted in the Merchant Marines at the age of 18 and served in World War II in the Mediterranean-Middle East and Pacific. He celebrated his 19th birthday in Buchner Bay, Okinawa. During the Korean War, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and volunteered to participate in the Atomic Bomb Test, "Upshot Knothole" on the Nevada test site, north of Las Vegas. On May 19, 1953, he participated in the shot "Harry". It was a 32 kt yield "32,000 tons of TNT".
Clarence was critically injured in a horse racing accident on July 10, 1936. He spent several years working with the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H. He was employed with Shelter Insurance Company for over 28, years.
Clarence was a charter member of Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Tanglefoot Square Dance Club, Couple's Bridge Club, American Legion Post #182, North Central Missouri Y.M.C.A, and National Association of Atomic Bomb Veterans. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Brookfield where he served on the board for several years and was a Deacon and an Elder.
As a tribute to Clarence's military service, he was interviewed by Witness to War, and his story can be viewed on their website at www.witnesstowar.org.