Richard P. Dodd, better known to his friends as R.P., died Saturday, September 11, 2004, at his home in Cocoa Beach, Fla., due to heart failure. He was born in Boston on November 11, 1918, Peace Day as it was known then, celebrated today at Veterans Day, to Percy and Gladys Dodd. He grew up in Boston and on Marthas Vineyard, graduating from Hyde Park High School in 1936. He joined the Civilian Military Training Corps (CMTC) in 1938, followed a year later by enlisting in the U.S. Army.
During his service in the U.S. Army, he saw combat action with the 80th Division throughout Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and numerous campaign medals and ribbons and was discharged in 1945 as a Second Lieutenant. These years of service he considered the most important in his life.
He married Peggy Shands, whom he met while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., before shipping out for Europe, she passed away in 1986. After his active service duty he returned to college gradu ating from the Alabama Poly technic Institute - now known as Auburn University, as an electrical engineer.
After a short period with the Tennes see Valley Authority, he joined the Pre-NASA team at the Redstone Arsenal in Hunts ville, Alabama. He then trans ferred to the Army Ballistic Middle Agency and moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1954 to usher in the future NASA Space Team working on projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Shuttle. Near the end of his 35 years with NASA, he was promoted to Director, Project Management Design Engineering, ultimately responsible for the design and function of Complex 34, Com plex 39, the Crawler Trans porter, the Industrial Complex and the Vertical Assembly Building.
After retiring from NASA he continued to utilize his engineering expertise in the private sector until his final retirement at age 79 and subsequent move back to Cocoa Beach.
He was survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Zoa; his brothers, Milton, Vernon and Calvin; son, Rich; grand sons, Derek and Marcus; numerous nieces and nephews, especially Vicki, Cindy and Jay whom he and Peggy raised as their own after the death of their mother. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Monday, September 20th, at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, with a reception immediately following.
During his service in the U.S. Army, he saw combat action with the 80th Division throughout Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and numerous campaign medals and ribbons and was discharged in 1945 as a Second Lieutenant. These years of service he considered the most important in his life.
He married Peggy Shands, whom he met while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., before shipping out for Europe, she passed away in 1986. After his active service duty he returned to college gradu ating from the Alabama Poly technic Institute - now known as Auburn University, as an electrical engineer.
After a short period with the Tennes see Valley Authority, he joined the Pre-NASA team at the Redstone Arsenal in Hunts ville, Alabama. He then trans ferred to the Army Ballistic Middle Agency and moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1954 to usher in the future NASA Space Team working on projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Shuttle. Near the end of his 35 years with NASA, he was promoted to Director, Project Management Design Engineering, ultimately responsible for the design and function of Complex 34, Com plex 39, the Crawler Trans porter, the Industrial Complex and the Vertical Assembly Building.
After retiring from NASA he continued to utilize his engineering expertise in the private sector until his final retirement at age 79 and subsequent move back to Cocoa Beach.
He was survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Zoa; his brothers, Milton, Vernon and Calvin; son, Rich; grand sons, Derek and Marcus; numerous nieces and nephews, especially Vicki, Cindy and Jay whom he and Peggy raised as their own after the death of their mother. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Monday, September 20th, at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, with a reception immediately following.
Richard P. Dodd, better known to his friends as R.P., died Saturday, September 11, 2004, at his home in Cocoa Beach, Fla., due to heart failure. He was born in Boston on November 11, 1918, Peace Day as it was known then, celebrated today at Veterans Day, to Percy and Gladys Dodd. He grew up in Boston and on Marthas Vineyard, graduating from Hyde Park High School in 1936. He joined the Civilian Military Training Corps (CMTC) in 1938, followed a year later by enlisting in the U.S. Army.
During his service in the U.S. Army, he saw combat action with the 80th Division throughout Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and numerous campaign medals and ribbons and was discharged in 1945 as a Second Lieutenant. These years of service he considered the most important in his life.
He married Peggy Shands, whom he met while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., before shipping out for Europe, she passed away in 1986. After his active service duty he returned to college gradu ating from the Alabama Poly technic Institute - now known as Auburn University, as an electrical engineer.
After a short period with the Tennes see Valley Authority, he joined the Pre-NASA team at the Redstone Arsenal in Hunts ville, Alabama. He then trans ferred to the Army Ballistic Middle Agency and moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1954 to usher in the future NASA Space Team working on projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Shuttle. Near the end of his 35 years with NASA, he was promoted to Director, Project Management Design Engineering, ultimately responsible for the design and function of Complex 34, Com plex 39, the Crawler Trans porter, the Industrial Complex and the Vertical Assembly Building.
After retiring from NASA he continued to utilize his engineering expertise in the private sector until his final retirement at age 79 and subsequent move back to Cocoa Beach.
He was survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Zoa; his brothers, Milton, Vernon and Calvin; son, Rich; grand sons, Derek and Marcus; numerous nieces and nephews, especially Vicki, Cindy and Jay whom he and Peggy raised as their own after the death of their mother. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Monday, September 20th, at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, with a reception immediately following.
During his service in the U.S. Army, he saw combat action with the 80th Division throughout Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and numerous campaign medals and ribbons and was discharged in 1945 as a Second Lieutenant. These years of service he considered the most important in his life.
He married Peggy Shands, whom he met while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., before shipping out for Europe, she passed away in 1986. After his active service duty he returned to college gradu ating from the Alabama Poly technic Institute - now known as Auburn University, as an electrical engineer.
After a short period with the Tennes see Valley Authority, he joined the Pre-NASA team at the Redstone Arsenal in Hunts ville, Alabama. He then trans ferred to the Army Ballistic Middle Agency and moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1954 to usher in the future NASA Space Team working on projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Shuttle. Near the end of his 35 years with NASA, he was promoted to Director, Project Management Design Engineering, ultimately responsible for the design and function of Complex 34, Com plex 39, the Crawler Trans porter, the Industrial Complex and the Vertical Assembly Building.
After retiring from NASA he continued to utilize his engineering expertise in the private sector until his final retirement at age 79 and subsequent move back to Cocoa Beach.
He was survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Zoa; his brothers, Milton, Vernon and Calvin; son, Rich; grand sons, Derek and Marcus; numerous nieces and nephews, especially Vicki, Cindy and Jay whom he and Peggy raised as their own after the death of their mother. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Monday, September 20th, at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, with a reception immediately following.
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