Oda “Odie” Meredith, 85, of La Monte, Missouri, died Friday, April 22, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home with Brother Charles Brant officiating. Interment will follow in Warrensburg Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends from noon until service time at the funeral home.

Odie was born Aug. 25, 1930, the son of Roosevelt and May (Brooks) Meredith in Edmonson County, Kentucky.

He and Jean Bradshaw were united in marriage on May 29, 1961, in Comanche, Texas.

Odie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and retired at Whiteman Air Force Base in 1971. He traveled throughout the world, including Italy and England, and was the official driver for two prominent generals. Odie was stationed in Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam, during the war and was part of the infamous Red Horse Squadron.

Following his military service, Odie worked for the federal government at Whiteman AFB for several years. He was also employed by the Boeing Company and was on the Minuteman Missile Replacement Crew. He transported and replaced over 150 Minuteman missiles. Odie also worked for the Army Corp of Engineers in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, for the duration of the Longview Lake Project. After his retirement, he worked part time for Arnett’s Agri Service in La Monte, Missouri.

Odie was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War and the American Veterans associations in Knob Noster, Missouri. He also served as municipal judge in La Monte for several years.

Odie was an avid race car fan and pit man for two nephews in the local and surrounding areas. He also enjoyed fishing.

Odie is survived by his wife, Jean, of La Monte; a daughter, Jill Gantz, and husband, Doug, of Knob Noster; two grandchildren, Tyler and Lindsey Gantz, of Knob Noster; four sisters, Homa Meredith, Stella Potts, Midge Ostendorf and Mary Boston, all of Louisville, Kentucky; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg and can be left in care of the funeral home.