John Jack Odell

Life Story Jack Odell was born in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 18, 1929, the eldest of two sons to Garrett Emil and Ruth Northridge Odell. He grew up on Long Island, and attended three years of college before joining the US military, ultimately becoming a fighter pilot for the US Air Force. He flew 80 successful missions during the Korean War. After his service, he joined Pan American World Airways in 1955. In 1956, he married Gay Amrhein, with whom he had three sons: Stephen, Robert, and Mark; and to whom he was married for over 60 years. He flew commercially until 1960, when he left commercial flying to move into corporate aviation, hiring on with Hercules Powder corporation in Wilmington, DE. In 1970, his aviation career led to a move to Saudi Arabia through a position with Lockheed, where he flew the Saudi royalty and oil ministers, and trained Saudi pilots. He returned to the US in 1972 upon the completion of his contract, taking a position with Mine Safety Appliance Company in Pittsburgh, PA. He was promoted there to chief pilot and aviation manager, and retired in 1992 after 20 years of service, and 32 flying the same jet, the Lockheed Jetstar, all over the world. Upon retirement, he and Gay moved to Ft. Collins, CO, finally moving to Boise in 2011. Jack was involved in many pastimes, including studying and investing in financial markets, classical music and opera, stamp collecting, model trains, gardening, and exercising, and upon his commitment to Christianity in mid-life, he became a great student of the Bible. With more time available after retirement, he became heavily involved in Christian and community service, and indulged his passion for dogs and relational evangelism. He was a man of firm principles and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, who called him home January 6, 2017. He is survived by his wife Gay; his sons: Stephen (Karen) of Boise, Robert (Jacquie) of Brentwood (northern), CA, and Mark (Kelye), of Kalispell, MT, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, and his brother, William, of Long Island, NY. Memorial services with military honors by the United States Air Force will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Ustick Baptist Church, 14301 W McMillan Rd., Boise. Private family inurnment will take place at the Idaho State Veteran's Cemetery. Please visit Jack's online memorial at www.AccentFuneral.com where you can leave condolence messages for his family. Arrangements are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian, 888-5833 *See Service Information Page*