DOWNEY - Samuel Bernard O'Dell, a U.S. Navy veteran and mechanical engineer, died March 8. He was 89.He was born two months premature on Dec. 23, 1921, in Kansas City, Mo., to Margaret (Waldeck) O'Dell Frampton and Samuel C. O'Dell. His parents brought him home from the hospital in a shoebox and placed him in the oven with the pilot light on and the door ajar to keep him warm. At age 13, he, his mother and younger sister, Marjorie Ann, moved to Los Angeles where he graduated from Fremont High School. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and, as a young sailor, he married Roberta Winter. They would remain married until Roberta's death in 2007. After receiving his honorable discharge papers from the Navy, O'Dell attended USC under the GI Bill and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1951. Over the years, as his family grew, he worked in the die-casting industry at McCulloch Corporation, Preco, X-Cello and Pioneer Die Casters, as well as occasional freelance drafting jobs. He was a lifetime member of the Society of Die Casters, an active member of St. Raymond's Catholic Church and was involved for many years in his sons' Boy Scout troop activities, all three of whom achieve the rank of Eagle Scout under his guidance. He was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Margaret; sister, Margie; stepfather, Bill Frampton; wife, Roberta; and grandson, Joseph. He is survived by his son, Michael, daughter-in-law, Bette, and their children, Linda, Nancy (Hiram) Trillo, Daniel and David; daughter, Donna Dittus, son-in-law, John Henry, and daughter, Becky (Paul) Durniok; son, James, daughter-in-law, Peggy, and daughter, Devon; son, John, daughter-in-law, Gail, and their children, Desire'e and Dana; daughter, Teresa Traversi, son-in-law, Daniel, and their children, Jessica, Samantha, Victoria and Prescott; great-grandchildren, Ethan and Emma Durniok; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held March 13 at Miller-Mies Mortuary. A funeral Mass took place March 14 at St. Raymond's Catholic Church, followed by interment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City.

********** Published: March 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 48