June 13, 2023, 80, Goldsboro –
Royce Bryant Odom, 80, passed away at home on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born on November 10, 1942, in Wayne County to the late Charlie and Eliza Odom. During his childhood, he worked alongside his family on their farm. Upon graduation from Rosewood High School in 1961, he worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia. He was proud of the fact that he helped to build the first nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise. Upon completion of this project, he returned to his farming roots in Goldsboro.
On September 25, 1966, he married Karen McCandless at Pike’s Crossroads Pentecostal Holiness Church in Pikeville. He pursued, thereafter, a career as a mechanic at Boyer International and later John Deere Company. Later in life, he became self-employed as a mechanic, assisting numerous farmers and other professionals across North Carolina and Virginia with needed equipment repairs. He was active in both Pike’s Crossroads Pentecostal Holiness Church and most recently at Church Alive, both in Pikeville.
Royce enjoyed his memberships with the National Rifle Association and the Vintage Tractor Club.
The family will receive friends on Monday, June 19, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home followed by a service to celebrate Royce’s life at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel with Rev. Chuck Gentry and Rev. Danny Rollins officiating. Interment will be in Wayne Memorial Park.
Royce is survived by his wife of 56 years, Karen McCandless Odom; stepdaughter, Connie McCandless Sullivan of Goldsboro; his daughters, Tammy Odom Kear and husband, John of Fremont, Patricia Odom Perry and husband, Tim of Zebulon, and Ginger Odom of Pikeville. Siblings: Roland Odom and wife, Karen of Wilmington, Phyllis Braswell and husband, Harold of Florida, Rodney Odom and wife, Amanda of Goldsboro and Robert Odom and wife, Belinda of Colorado. He was also blessed with several grandchildren: Matt Rose, Tiffany Sullivan, Randy Odom, Josie Odom (Matt), Laura Herring, Jonathan Guillen, and Juan Renteria. Great-grandchildren: Kylie Casey, Kensley Canady, Kaiden Herring, Jiraiya Vazquez, and Anthony Vazquez, Jr., and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins he loved very much.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Wilbert Odom.
Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
