Bessie J. Dodd

When you first met Bessie Dodd, you notice even at 95 years of age, she had a fire in her eyes. Bessie was raised in Pinedale, Wyo., located in the valley an hour south of Jackson Hole and east of the Teton mountain range. Bessie returned to Pinedale after living in Denver to finish high school and graduate. After her graduation from high school, Bessie moved to Seattle to assist an aunt in business. She enjoyed her work with the company there so much, she decided to enter business school, and returned to Denver to do so.

In 1944, Bessie decided to join the Women's Army Corp. She had to have her father sign for her to enlist since she was not quite 20 years old yet.

On July 4, 1945 Bessie was aboard the Queen Elizabeth when she set sail for Greenwich, Scotland with the first group of WACs bound for Germany after WWII ended in Europe on May 7, 1945.

Bessie met and married Sgt. Beverly L. Dodd on June 7th, 1947, first in Bremen Germany by German Civil Law and again in Nordwick, Holland by a United States Army Chaplain. They returned to the United States in September of 1948.

The Dodd’s had three boys, Larry, Darrell and Valor. Although she lived in Frisco, Texas for the last few years of her life, she loved El Paso. After returning from several overseas and domestic assignments, Bessie and family would always return to El Paso, where she and her husband Beverly retired.

Bessie served as a Red Cross Volunteer for 53 years and enjoyed serving military families. She and her husband loved to travel around the country, camping at lakes and the beach. She loved all things outdoors, most of all swimming.

Most recently, you could find her at Bible Study or her knit group at Stonebriar church or playing cards and Rummikub at Bethesda Gardens with her friends. She enjoyed getting her nails done, going on social outings, and being with her grandkids, family and beloved daughter-in-law Patti.

She was preceded in death by her son Larry, who lost his life in Vietnam, and husband Beverly of nearly 70 years. Bessie will be laid to rest on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. with full military honors along with her husband and son at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.

Bessie was a member of the Greatest Generation and will be missed by her entire family.