Howard “Pop” F. Odell, 80, of Middletown, passed away unexpectedly May 31, 2023, at home, his favorite place to be.
Howard was born in East Orange in September 1942, the only child of Jeannette and Howard Odell. Howard lived in Ledgewood and Netcong before moving to Middletown in 1954, where he continued to live for the rest of his life in the home he and his father built. He graduated from Middletown High School with the Class of 1960 and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, completing basic training in Cape May. He was stationed at Shark River and Sandy Hook and retired after 26 years of service with the rank of chief boatswain’s mate.
Howard joined his father’s plumbing and heating business in 1960 as a master plumber. When his father passed away in 1972, Howard took over the business and, refusing to retire, worked right up until his last day. Regarding employment, he advised his children: “Find something that you love to do and figure out how to get paid for it.” He did just that, leaving early in the morning whistling a tune, then returning 10 hours later, filthy, tired, happy and still whistling a tune.
Howard married the love of his life, Ann Harrington, in 1965, and they celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in April. Howard’s life and legacy are celebrated by his surviving family: his wife Ann; his three daughters, Kimberly (Christopher), Leslie (Paul), and Tamara (Brian); his six loving grandchildren, Joseph, Olivia, Scott, Alexa, Marissa and Padraig; and his adopted granddaughter Andy D.
Howard was a lifelong participant in the Masonic family, starting his career as a young man in the Order of DeMolay and joining the Free Masons in 1964. During his 59-year membership in the Navesink Lodge #9 in Red Bank, he served as Worshipful Master in 1975, chairman of the Masonic Blood Bank, a long-serving trustee, and as a dutiful board member of the Howard Whitfield Masonic Scholarship Fund.
Howard’s greatest joys were simple: his home and his family. He loved puttering around the house or yard, always with a task to be completed. In his later years, he could be found in a favorite poolside chair,“surveying the lower 40” at the back of his property, or “checking my eyelids for cracks” while ostensibly watching the news.
He enjoyed skiing until his knees and common sense both demanded that he stop. He was ever curious, always wondering, “What’s over that hill?” He was an expert at becoming lost on family road trips, but he always managed to find a plumbing supply store before righting the course. He was a lifelong learner, fascinated by history. His intelligence in all things was second to none; his respect for those who earned it unfailing; his love and pride for his family unending, which is what will support them through the hard days to come.
Howard’s main request after death was, “Surprise me.” He did reveal that he did not want to be confined to a box in the ground, opting instead for cremation and having his ashes sprinkled in his favorite places – although his family teased him that they would divide him up and keep him in their cars to help one last time if they got stuck in the snow.
A celebration of Howard’s life will be held 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. June 19 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. A Masonic Funeral Service will begin at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Howard Whitfield Masonic Scholarship Fund (via the Community Foundation of New Jersey) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
The article originally appeared in the June 8 – 14, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
