Ronnie "Ron" Hugh Odom, Jr.

Ronnie Hugh Odom, Jr., 51 of Graham, known as “Ron” to everyone who knew and loved him, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022. He was a native of Wilmington, North Carolina and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He enjoyed his work as an IT Analyst with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, walking the UNC campus traveling to and patiently helping all those struggling with their computers.

Ron was a published academic specializing in Cold War History. His ideas were included in a course a professor taught while Ron was working on his Master’s Thesis . Although Ron thought of himself as an intellectual, he was also a member of the Durham Pistol and Rifle Club. Ron had an epic sense of humor; he loved comedy and had the kind of contagious laugh that made everyone want to join in. As a young man he worked in a movie theater and developed a love of film from Austin Powers to the spaghetti westerns, Heat and Dr. Strangelove and everything in between. Ron was also an avid musician who excelled at the guitar, bass, and harmonica, and he was a beginning drummer. He wrote and produced three albums of his music showcasing the blues, rock, and classical pieces that can found on bandcamp . You can listen to his music to get a glimpse into his mind and heart and remember him.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Kimberle Brown; Parents, Ronnie and Patsy Johnson Odom of Wilmington; brother and sister-in-law, Jerry Odom and Casey Bazemore of Winston-Salem; niece, Jesse Odom of Winston Salem; and his two oldest and closest friends who were like brothers to him, Rob Noel of Hurdle Mills, NC and Brian Tucker of Wilmington.

A gathering for family and friends will be held at a later date in Wilmington. Online condolences may be sent to www.mcclurefuneralservice.net

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron’s honor to Freedom Ride Rescue of Raleigh where Ron had recently adopted his dog, Romy, or UNC’s Carolina Covenant .