Chuck “Charlie Bob” Dodds, age 83, of Brownwood passed away on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, surrounded by his family.
Funeral Services for Chuck will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 16, 2021, at First Christian Church with Sterling Lentz officiating; burial will follow at Winchell Cemetery with Military Honors and Masonic Rites. Come and Go Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. at Blaylock Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Characters like Chuck Dodds are bigger than life, with stories to stretch for miles and tall tales to block out the sun. The sort of life that’s assumed to be the stuff of fiction – impossible for any one man to have lived. But those lucky to have known Charley Bob know that such rarities walk among us. But obviously, a man with as many names as he (Charles, Chuck, Cha, Chabob, Charley Bob) is bound to have lived anything but an ordinary life.
He was born, September 20th, 1937, to Johnnie (Harris) Dodds and Charles Robert Dodds Sr. in Brownwood, Texas, the second of four children, and grew up with little, learning the value of hard work, a good trade and an appreciation for the simple things.
Though his travels took him far and wide, across the country and overseas, it was always Brownwood that held his heart and would call him home. Not many are lucky enough to form the sort of friendships that last an entire lifetime, but Charley Bob had them by the bushel. Many were certainly there to welcome him home Monday night. He treasured each and every one and kept them close.
It’s impossible to sum up a man like Chuck Dodds’ life in a couple hundred words. Especially one that lived the way he was intent to…. He was a loving son, a brother, a father, a favorite uncle, a grandfather, a godfather, a friend, a neighbor and a devoted husband. He was a devout Christian, a church elder, a Mason, a veteran. He was a milkman, a boxer, a roughneck, a soldier, a paratrooper, a policeman, a pianist, a burial vault salesman, a motorcyclist, a traveler, a bouncer, an artist, a rancher, a builder, a business man, a welder, a craftsman, an insurance adjuster, an antique dealer, a singer, a mechanic, a troublemaker, a card shark, a sports fan, a school board member, a backseat driver, a collector of everything, a firm believer in bigger is better and more is more, a genealogist, a hunter, a marksman, a confidant, a hoot, a barbeque master, a fish fryer, an auctioneer, a magician, an entrepreneur, a dancer, a teller of the tallest tales… so many tall tales… he was a dreamer. He could fill a room with laughter, and we wish he would right about now.
To his daughters, he was the strongest man on earth. He was certainly the toughest, if not merely out of sheer stubborn hard-headedness. But more than that, Chuck Dodds was a fighter. He’d be quick to tell you that up until Monday, he’d only ever lost one fight in his life – a lightweight boxing match in his teens…. the second was at the age of 84. We should have known he’d go down swinging.
While such a defeat was against the odds, the afterparty was surely the stuff of legend. There to welcome him were his Mother and Daddy; and sister, Barbara Joan Dodds; along with countless loved ones. They have so much catching up to do.
He leaves behind his wife, Donna Thomas Dodds, to whom he was blissfully married for 44 glorious years; daughters, Shauna Dodds and husband James King of Buda, Sarah Dodds and fiance Brandon Aguilar of Buda, Emily Dodds and partner Jason Lifsey of Round Rock, Raina Hood of Austin; son, Terry Van Ryan of Brownwood; grandsons, Charlie Aguilar (due October 6), William Lifsey, Griffin Lifsey, Ezerra VanRyan; granddaughter, Everleigh Lifsey; his brother, Johnny Ivan Dodds and wife Karen of Brownwood; his sister, Mary Lou Middleton of Victoria; nieces, Courtney Sides, Natalie Motal and husband Eric; nephews, Greg Dodds and wife Bradlee, Brian Dodds and wife Christe; along with many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews, and last, but certainly not least, his trusted guard-dog, Mookie.
In lieu of flowers, Chuck requested that you simply call a friend or loved one to catch up and tell them you love them. Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.