Alvin Odell Leinart, 94, joined his wife, Ruth, in Heaven on Thursday, December 17, 2020. Born in Bulls Gap, TN on December 22, 1925, Odell spent most of his life in Chattanooga. A 1943 graduate of The Baylor School, Odell was drafted by the US Navy in 1944 and flew over 300 combat missions over the Sea of Japan during World War II. He served as radioman and nose gunner of his crew’s Privateer (PB4Y2) plane as part of the Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 118.
After the war, Odell graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Civil Engineering and married Ruth McClendon on March 23, 1951. With his degree in hand, Odell gained much experience in the field of asphalt paving and consulting, first with Dave L. Brown Contracting and later with RP Scott Contracting. After retiring, Odell worked part-time as a paving consultant for the City of Chattanooga.
Odell and Ruth were charter members of St Peter’s Episcopal Church, where Odell served on almost every committee that the church had to offer – most notably Senior and Junior Warden of the Vestry. He was a devoted member of St. Peter’s for 62 years.
Odell’s hobbies were plentiful. His number one hobby was his being with his wife Ruth and three children. They enjoyed boating several years aboard the “Ruth M” and “The Hornet.” Odell then introduced his family to horseback riding and they spent several years showing horses. His favorite horse was Windy Kid, a Standardbred who won many speed racking state championship classes.
In 1983, Odell took his family to Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria. This trip spawned a love of travel. Odell and Ruth spent many years traveling across the United States and Canada. Out of all the places he visited, Odell would tell everyone his most favorite place to visit was Alaska!
Later in his retirement years, Odell collected antique cars and enjoyed collecting and shooting antique guns. He was a first class dancer who had a dazzling collection of vibrant sport coats for every occasion. His constant companion for seventeen years was his dog Dynamite, who Odell adored. He also enjoyed several lifelong dear friendships that were so very special to him.
Odell’s parents, David Odell and Mima Katherine, and his wife Ruth preceded him in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda (Bob) Wallace and Sandra (Thane) DeWeese and one son David (Kara) Leinart. He had seven grandchildren, Bethany Shovlin, Noah DeWeese, Sarah DeWeese, Jesse DeWeese, Luke DeWeese, Kylie Leinart and Kalen Leinart. He had two great grandchildren, John Shovlin and Abby Shovlin.
A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. The family will receive friends at Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga from 12:30pm until the service hour on Wednesday, December 23, 2020.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 848 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415 or St Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 18th Street NW, Washington DC, 20006.
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