David B. Rodden
8/29/2011
David B. Rodden, age 90, head of Home Creek Ranch out of Valera, Texas, a Texas Centennial Ranch founded by his ancestors in 1885, died Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 1 in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Randy Griffin officiating. Burial with Military Honors with be held at Valera Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
David was born November 14, 1920 in Valera, Texas, a son of Ethan Allen Rodden and Lucy Bell James Rodden. He attended and graduated from Centennial High School, Coleman County, Texas. David also attended Texas A&M University and later worked at the General Dynamics Fort Worth plant assembling P-51s and B-24s.
David, being an humble Patriot who did his duty for God and Country, was soon serving in the U. S. Army Air Corp from 1944 to 1945 in World War II. David was in the China, Burma, India, Pacific theater where he served with the 14th Army Air Corp which was commanded by the famous Claire Chenault of the Flying Tigers. David served on a B-24 Liberator ("The Ding How Dottie") of the famed 308th Bomb Group, where he was a recipient of The Distinguished Flying Cross along with three Bronze Battle Stars, among other decorations.
On May 25, 1946, he married Lorene Dyer in Coleman, Texas. They lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area where he drove a truck for Exxon Mobil, retiring after a number of years. They returned to live in Valera where he was a member of Valera Baptist Church. He was also a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lorene Rodden; children, Mark Rodden and wife Dorothy, Joseph E. Rodden and wife Cindy, Cody Rodden and wife Linda, Donald Rodden, Timothy Rodden and wife Sherri, Gary Rodden, Joseph A. Rodden and wife Lindsay, Rhonda Bell and husband Terry Bunton, Rosanna Troutman and husband Roger, Rebecca Burge and husband Rick, Regina Corbin, Rolinda Syfrett, Rachel Rodden, Renee English and husband John, Junea Rodden and Jamie Rodden; grandchildren, Brannon Rodden, Misty Rodden, Cindy Limdimmuth, Wendy Dominikoski, Roben Gerharte, Evan Rodden, Allison Rodden, Ethan Rodden, Heather Nelson, Shelby Bunton, Roger Troutman, Clint Troutman, Christopher Kelso, Jason Corbin, Jennifer Droege, Ron Syfrett, Stephanie Syfrett, Tanya Syfrett, Tiffany Sterrett, Stephen Sterrett, Justin Eudy, Melissa English; great-grandchildren, Garrett Rodden, Lorelei Rodden, Trent Ellison, Trever Ellison, Hayden Long, Audrey Corbin, Brock Droege, Brae Droege, Emmalynn Kelso, Hope Butler, Rylan Baker.
He was preceded in death by three children, Bobby Rodden, Ranessa Rodden and Radeana Rodden; a grandchild, Jeffrey Rodden, and a great-grandchild, Gavin Rodden.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 West Pecan, Coleman, Texas.
