Birth date: Nov 18, 1946 Death date: May 31, 2018
Robert L. Dodds Jr., 71, died May 31, in Trinity, FL. He was born November 18, 1946, in Kansas City, MO the eldest son of Robert L. and JoAnn (Carlson) Dodds. He attended schools in the Kansas City, MO area graduating in 1964 from Read Obituary
Dear Miss Linda,
I once read that death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal. I know you have many wonderful memories of Bob. I hope you continue to find comfort in them.
My all-time favorite movie is "It's a Wonderful Life" - and trite as it sounds, life is what we make it. Bob had a wonderful life. In the movie, Jimmy Stewart's character was blessed with a glimpse into a future that showed how vital each and every personal contact we make is. Bob’s death is a sobering reminder of how vulnerable we all are and should be a time of renewal and commitment to our friends and our values -- a time to take notice of how our actions and decisions affect our lives and those around us. Bob’s presence on earth touched each of us, and we'll all miss him.
Cris and I have had the fortune of knowing you and Bob for over half of our lives. Your brother/sister bond with us has been strong from the first day we met in the Ozarks. We shared work projects, dinners, fireworks, vacations, homes, holidays, and so much more. Bob was “our big brother” – there is no denying that! Bob was such a fun-loving guy. Whenever I mentioned him to friends that knew him, they would say “we love Bob – he is so funny!” Personally, I always loved Bob’s big smile. When Bob was in the room, he could make anyone feel like family. Thank you for sharing him with us. We never imagined that Bob would leave us so soon. I believe that Bob "had the time of his life" – it was just too short.
So much of our time and activities together centered around boating and the water. I hope you find some comfort from this story: “A little boat carrying our loved one departs from the shore. With sadness we watch as he sails over the horizon ‘there he goes’ we cry. At the opposite shore a crowd has gathered as the little boat approaches ‘here he is’ they cry as our loved one walks into their loving arms.”
Can’t you just picture Bob stepping off the boat and into the loving arms of those who have gone before us? We can look forward to him being there to give us a hug and help us debark when we get to Heaven!
Being both a law enforcement officer and U.S. Marine, Bob was the epitome of a true peacemaker. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 Thank you for sharing him with our country and citizens to be a protector. He was also your personal protector; he is now your guardian angel.
I want you to be proud and never forget that you were a great wife! Bob believed in you and was proud of you. You fought for him, and watched over him, until the end.
I know if Bob could tell us how to remember him, he would say, “Dry your tears and smile.”
For each of us, it is hard to say goodbye. No one wants to be the one left behind. We didn't ask for it to be over, but then we never asked for it to begin with. Remember that as some of the most beautiful days come completely by chance, even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets.
Hugs to you. My dear friend, I love you like a sister.
All our love to you,
Joan and Cris
