George Thomas "Tom" O'Dell

George Thomas "Tom" O'Dell, 99, died of natural causes at his home at Raphael House Assisted Living in Rockville, MD, on Wednesday, December 16, 2010. He was born on September 23, 1911 along with his twin sister, Martha Cornette, in Bristol, TN, to Andrew O. and Sarah Alice Morton O'Dell. Tom was the last surviving member of his five siblings.

Tom graduated from Tennessee High School in 1932, and lived in Kingsport until the outbreak of World War II. At that time, he moved to Baltimore, MD, and worked at the Martin Company in the defense industry. Afterwards, he returned to Kingsport where he was a Pressman for the Kingsport Press for more than 25 years. He was an active member of the First Christian Church in Kingsport, where he served as an elder for many years. He thoroughly enjoyed working in his home shop, repairing small motors, and creating unique tools & other precision metal craft. He also found time to proudly serve as a Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout Troop. Tom and his wife Pauline moved to Maryland in 1987 to be near their daughters. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ at Manor Woods.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Pauline Smith, and is survived by his two loving daughters, Mary O'Dell of Potomac, MD and Martha Morrissey and her husband Bob of Annapolis, MD, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephewsa€"along with their families.

The family will receive friends at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, on Tuesday, December 21st from 5 to 7 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park on Wednesday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. with Phillip Sams, minister officiating.