Ralph E. Dodson

Ralph Eugene Dodson



Henderson TN



Ralph E. Dodson, age 87 of Henderson, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Regional Hospital of Jackson following a short illness. Mr. Dodson was a retired territorial representative for the American Hereford Association and former Lieutenant in the US Navy.



Mr. Dodson was born on August 22, 1923 and reared in Perry County, Tennessee, where he graduated from Linden High School in 1941. He then attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville before entering the US Navy at the beginning of World War II. As the war began, he received his naval pre-flight training in Athens, Georgia, and flight training at Love Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was stationed at Naval Air Bases in Memphis, TN, Miami, FL, Seattle and Pasco, WA with carrier training in San Diego, CA. During World War II, he served in the south pacific aboard the carriers USS Bataan and USS Belleau Wood (known as the Eleven Star Lady) where he was a bomber pilot and Chief Air Intelligence Officer. His air crew flew in the first airstrike against Tokyo where he took one direct hit to the left wing of his plane called “The Rebel.” His fighter crew shot down 208 enemy planes.



While serving in the Navy, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals and the President of Unit Citation. He returned from the service as a Full Lieutenant of the Navy.

After the war, he attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he earned a Master’s Degree in Animal Husbandry in 1951. He met and married his first wife, Dorothy Archer Dodson, in 1952. She preceded him in death in 1976.



He worked for the University of Tennessee Agricultural Farm as Manager of Cattle Operations until 1961, then worked for the American Hereford Association. He worked in this position for 27 years until his retirement in 1988, promoting the Hereford cattle industry in all areas east of the Mississippi River. He was a charter member of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association.



Mr. Dodson, a life-long Methodist, was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Henderson, TN where he served on various committees. Later, he moved his membership to Trinity United Methodist Church of Henderson TN to be with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nina Mildred Holly Godwin and Ralph Dodson of Linden, TN; a brother John Marshall Dodson of Linden, TN; and a sister Lucille Dodson Sharp of Linden, TN.



Mr. Dodson is survived by his wife of 23 years, Tina A Dodson of Henderson, TN along with two daughters and sons-in-law: Holly and Brad Speight of Seaside, FL and Leslie and Jeff Hunt of Henderson, TN; three grandchildren, Brooke Hunt Welch (Tyler) of Henderson, TN, Beth Hunt Powell (John Mark) of Alamo, TN and Andrew Hunt of Henderson, TN; two great grandsons, John Wyatt Powell of Alamo, TN and Jackson Hunt Welch of Henderson, TN; several nieces, nephews, and many friends.



Pallbearers are Andrew Hunt, Tyler Welch, John Mark Powell, David Diamond, Steve McPhail, Bill Barclay and David Atchison.



Honorary pallbearers are Joe Pevahouse, Glyn Debter, F C Wilsdorf, HH Dickenson, Bud Snidow, Bob Reynolds, Jack Westbrook, Bill Woodard, Dr. Bob Sumrall, Randy Crouse, James B. McManus, Joe Burton, John F Sharp, Joe Cherry, Lovell Kuykendall and Terry Bucy.