Del Odle
August 20, 1937 – August 20, 2025
Delbert (Del) Leon Odle passed away peacefully in his sleep, in the comfort of his home, on his 88th birthday.
Del was born in Oklahoma, and his family moved to Los Banos, California, when he was a toddler. He was the eldest of four siblings and grew up in a home built from the ground up by his father. He was a true country boy, his family raising much of their food and tending their animals, and he loved country music his entire life. He was the first in his family to go to college, eventually earning three Master’s degrees.
Del worked his entire 40-year career at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company. He loved everything to do with the cosmos, and would marvel at the magnitude of space and the mysteries of the universe. When his children were small, he would ask them “space questions”: How long is a light year? What is the closest solar system to ours? Which planet is the farthest from the Sun? (The answer will always be Pluto, despite what the deniers may tell you.) After retirement, he volunteered for over 10 years at Kaiser Hospital, where he assisted patients, trained new volunteers, and ran the blood donation events. He practiced what he preached, donating over 25 gallons of blood over the years.
In his youth Del was a sprinter, and he won many awards in track & field. He held records at Los Banos High School for years, until those uppity young’uns got so darn fast. Del was a big fan of the Giants, 49ers and Warriors, and rarely missed the games. He also had a fondness for hummingbirds, and for decades kept their feeder hanging over his patio, where he would watch them enjoy their meals. In his later years when he could no longer climb ladders, he would call his daughter with the urgent request: “You need to get over here! My birds are almost out of food!” He also secretly left peanuts for the squirrels, but shhh don’t tell the HOA!
Del is survived by his children Susan and Keith; his grandchildren Shanna, Cameron, Kody (Kristin) and Alison; his sisters Sharlet and Karen; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Prince and Flarence, and his sister Diana. He will be laid to rest at the Los Banos Cemetery alongside his beloved parents. In his memory, please treat yourself to one of his favorite things: a box of See’s candy.
And the next chapter begins …
