FAIRVIEW — Charles (Charlie) Dodds, 62, of Fairview, died following a brief illness at his home on Saturday, June 20, 2009.
He was born in Meadville on March 21, 1947, a son of Lorraine VanTassel Wilson of Lexington, Mich., and the late John T. Dodds.
Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Navy following high school. He served aboard the USS Comstock and received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device.
Upon his discharge from the military, he returned to the Meadville area, where he went to work in the tree service industry. He had been employed at Bovaird Tree Service in Girard for 35 years as a tree surgeon.
He collected many types of tree burls, enjoyed hunting, and was always ready for a good game of chess.
Charlie will be sadly missed by his family, which in addition to his mother includes his wife, Sheryl A. Kemp Dodds, whom he married Oct. 2, 1998, in Erie; two sons, Charles Thomas Dodds Jr. of Erie, and Timothy John Dodds and his companion, Natalie Hess, of Newberg, Ore.; a daughter, Tammy L. Mannon and her husband, Ryan, of Millcreek; two stepdaughters, Erin Albright and her husband, Dean, of Ottawa, Canada, and Jessica Higby and her fiancé, Paul Topka, of Pittsburgh; a stepson, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Higby of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Sharon Cadle and her husband, Clayton, of St. Peters, Mich.; a stepsister, Darlene Hulsizer Sharp of Caldwell, W.Va.; three brothers, David Dodds and his wife, Barbara, of Cochranton, Kenneth Dodds and his wife, Patsy, of Front Royal, Va., and Russell (Rusty) Dodds and his wife, Darla, of Franklin; a stepbrother, Don Hulsizer of Utah; five grandchildren, Sierra Dodds, Connor Higby, Caine Albright, Tierrney Albright and Rachel Mannon; and also several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Daniel R. Edder Funeral Home, 309 Main St. East, Girard.
Services will be held there on Wednesday at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Fred Ayers, pastor of Walnut Creek Baptist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Erie County Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 915 State St., Erie, Pa. 16501.
To send condolences, visit edderfuneralhome.com.
