The long and happy life of John Odell peacefully ended on December 23, 2016. John was 93 years young. John was born in Alliance Nebraska on May 29, 1923 and was the 2nd child and only son of John Henry and Sophia (Matson) Odell. John was preceded in death by his older sister, Nadine (Odell) Keating in 1999. John enlisted in the US Navy in May 1941 and served on the USS Enterprise as part of the Asiatic Pacific Fleet during WWII. John served as an Aviation Machinist and Aviation Safety Inspector during his nearly 6 years in the Navy. He received the WWII Victory Medal, 11 stars for the Asiatic / Pacific theatre battles and was honorably discharged on December 7, 1946 in San Diego. John began his professional work career selling insurance for State Farm Insurance and ultimately changed his focus to selling real estate all over San Diego County. Odell Realty operated for 40 years with offices in National City and Spring Valley California. In July 1949, Dad married Jean Emily Christine Kelley and they remained together until Jean's passing in 1990. They raised two children together. A daughter, Melody and a younger son (Brian Drake Odell) who passed away in 2014. In 1992, John married Marilyn Gayle (Swenson) Odell and they shared a wonderful life together until Marilyn passed on in 2014. John is survived by his loving daughter Melody Doreen (Odell) Gayeski, his grandsons, John Snodgrass, Rollin Moore, and Charles Hartley. He will also be missed by his great-granddaughter, Zoe Nikol (Snodgrass) Swanson. A celebration of life will be held at the La Vida Real Senior Living Community, 11588 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, California on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 8350 Lake Murray Blvd, San Diego, California 92119.