Thomas W. Dodd, age 89, of Main Street, Barcelona died Wednesday morning, November 15, 2017 at home following an extended illness. He was born on August 3, 1928 in Pittsburgh, PA, a son of the late Thomas W. and Clara (Simmons) Dodd.
Tom's family moved from Pittsburgh to England when he was a small child. He joined the Merchant Marines and visited 37 countries. Tom honorably served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1948 until 1951. He was a graduate of Alfred Technical College and attended Fredonia College at night while he was working days at Ajax Flexible Couplings of Westfield. Tom always had an interest in chemistry. He had been employed by Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Company; Southern Coatings in South Carolina, where he was the Head of Industrial Coatings; Warlick Industries in North Carolina, where he was Laboratory Director for 18 years; Paint Products of Greensboro, NC; and he retired from Jamestown Finishes as Laboratory Director. He continued to do consulting on chemicals and chemical sales.
Tom was an avid swimmer; he swam almost every day up until 2015. He was an accomplished golfer and enjoyed walking and staying active. He penned a book, When the Bombs Fell; a narrative of his family's time in England during WWII.
Tom enjoyed flower gardening and puttering around his home. As much as he enjoyed many things, Tom's family was most important to him.
He is survived by his wife, Suzanne L. (Grant) Dodd whom he married on July 31, 1954; his one daughter, Jody L. Dodd-Jaynes of Westfield; and his two sons, Thomas W. Dodd of Atlanta, GA and Christopher A. Dodd of Statesville, NC. Tom is further survived by his six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Also surviving are his one brother, Alfred G. Dodd of Linesville, PA; and his sister-in-law, Marge (late Noel) Dodd of Saratoga Springs. Besides his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia; and by his two brothers, Noel and Robert.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date by the Mason Funeral Home, 37 Clinton Street, Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of WNY, 2805 Werhle Drive Suite #6, Williamsville, NY 14221; or to Hospice Of Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750.
Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send Tom's family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle, or for further information.
