James W. Dodd

James W. Dodd, 90, of Lometa, passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at Advent Central Texas Hospital in Killeen.

Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church on Monday, February 21, 2022 at 12:00 pm.

Jim was born to Ben and Joyce Dodd on July 7, 1931 in Fort Worth, Texas. Even at an early age, Jim was quite the businessman, embarking on his first job at age 10 selling magazines and delivering newspapers. In high school, Jim got his first taste of sports broadcast and journalism, working and writing for the school paper. He attended The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a degree in Journalism. Continuing his love for sports, Jim worked on the sports beat for The Daily Texan. Jim’s first (and longest) job out of college was for the radio station, KVET, where he would work as a news reporter and, ultimately, general manager. This job opened up incredible opportunities for Jim, from meeting and befriending UT’s head football coach, Darrell Royal, to reporting on substantial events in Austin. During his time in Austin, Jim was an avid member of the Lions Club, becoming the youngest president of the Downtown Austin chapter.

Jim’s life was marked by his ability to befriend absolutely anyone, his love for history and reading, his UT Longhorn pride, and his dedication to serving both those he loved and the land on which he lived. Retirement on the ranch allowed Jim to continue to work hard taking care of their acreage, tending to the livestock, and maintaining his vegetable garden.   He enjoyed meeting friends at the local bank for coffee, playing cards, trading stocks, and attending church and Sunday School.

On one of Jim’s final days here, his pastor generously read Psalm 103 over him, a beautiful picture of Jim’s firm belief in the Lord’s steadfast love. “Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits…For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him.”

Life together

Jim and Virginia met on a blind date in 1951 while attending UT, the day Texas beat Kentucky in football.  The couple married in December 1952 in Houston. They began a wonderful life together that would span an amazing 68 years. In 1980, Jim and Virginia left Austin to begin life on their ranch in Nix just outside Lampasas, Texas. The Dodds’ pride and joy were their daughters, Cheryl and Kellye. They delighted in their every accomplishment and were loving, supportive parents who taught their girls to love Jesus. Welcoming sons-in-law, Tom and Jeff, into the family spurred the growth of their legacy. Their attention would soon turn to their four grandchildren - Clay, Kyle, Whitney and Hillary. Jim and Virginia, known to the grandchildren as Papa and Mema, always made visits to the ranch an adventure.  Mema took great joy in making scrapbooks for the grandchildren as a remembrance of their time on the ranch.  Time at the ranch was marked by calling and feeding the cattle, learning to drive 4-wheelers, exploring in the ranch truck, and playing cards with Papa.  The grandkids also took trips to town, the library and the local pool. And no summer was complete without participating in the annual Lampasas Spring Ho. The grandchildren brought immense joy to Jim and Virginia, and their legacy continues with 9 great grandchildren and a tenth on the way.

Jim and Virginia loved to travel the world together, exploring destinations both near and far. They brought their children and grandchildren along with them on several of these trips, instilling a strong spirit of adventure and love for culture. No destination could compare to home at the ranch, sharing a meal prepared by Virginia (followed by bowls of ice cream or pie) around the table with the family. 

The Dodds leave a substantial emptiness in this world, but their character, faith and legacy will live on for years to come in those who knew and loved them. The family is forever grateful to their end-of-life caregivers, Sara and Barbie.

Jim and Virginia Dodd are survived by daughter Cheryl Spencer and son-in-law, Tom Spencer; daughter Kellye Price and son-in-law, Jeff Price; sister, Carolyn Casterline; nephew, Greg Burden; grandson Clay Spencer, his wife, Christy, and their daughters, Noli Grace and Virginia “Gigi”; grandson Kyle Spencer, his wife, Caroline, and their sons, Weldon, Miller and Harris; granddaughter Whitney Horner, her husband, Trent, their son, Beckett, and daughters, Kennedy and Adleigh; and granddaughter Hillary Taylor, her husband, Robert, their son, Brooks, and soon-to-be-born daughter.

Service information: Monday, February 21, 2022 12:00 noon at First United Methodist Church of Lampasas

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lampasas and/or Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Dallas.