Jack Lowman Bodie

Obituary Notice

Jack Lowman Bodie, 79, of Little Rock, died Friday, June 20, 2003. He was born in Morrilton, AR, April 13, 1924, to the late Jim and Frances Bodie. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 32 years, Inee Bodie. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1942, where he lettered in basketball and football for 3 years, was All-State quarterback in 1942, and played in the symphony and marching band. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1946. While there he was Cadet Commander, Eastern Intercollegiate Boxing Champion, and B-squad football quarterback. He was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and participated in a pilot exchange program with Great Britain's Royal Air Force. He served as Squadron Commander in the RAF, and was chosen to fly in the London coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He retired from the USAF as a Lt. Colonel.

Since returning to Arkansas in 1963, he served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and choir member at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. In addition, he was Chairman of the Southeast Arkansas Blood Drive, served on the board of Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center, had leading roles in community theater productions, founded the Pine Bluff Chapter of Christian Business Men's Council, was a Youth Home board member, and President of the Diamond State Chapter of the Society of Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. He was also an avid runner and continued to compete in races into his sixties.
After moving to Little Rock in 1983, he became a Master Scuba diver, and served as an Elder, Sunday School teacher and choir member at Grace Presbyterian Church. He volunteered at First Presbyterian Church's Stew Pot and was a board member of the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home in Monticello. He retired after 30 years as a broker with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

He is survived by his children: Kathy Bodie Allison and her husband Steve of Cabot, Jan Bodie Danner and her husband Edsel of Little Rock, Bill Bodie and his wife, Teresa of Little Rock and Beth Yocom and her husband Tony of Hope, AR, a brother Morgan William Bodie and his wife, Joan of Garland, TX and his twelve grandchildren, Stephanie, Angie and Kristie Allison, Jimbo and Liz Ramsay, Lane and Mackenzie Bodie, Leslie and Tyler Yocom and Clayton, Casey and Cory Danner.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Ruebel Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church, 9301 N. Rodney Parham Rd., at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 23, officiated by Rev. Ann Russ. Immediately following service at the church, lunch will be served for those who wish to attend both services.

Full military burial will be held on Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery located at 1501 W. Marilyn, North Little Rock.

The family expresses special thanks to Paul Spann, Ron Malnor, and the staffs of Delicious Temptations and Dixie Café.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, 9301 N. Rodney Parham, Little Rock, 72227, or the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home. To sign register book online use link at the bottom of this page.

He will be missed by his family and many friends.

Register Book

Mac & Beverly Tatman
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
To All of You,
I was saddened to hear of your father's death this morning. A friend called me out here in Camarillo Ca to tell me. I have so much I would like to say about how Jack and your mother influenced me, but I know others will do that more eloquently than I over the next couple of days. Even though I was a purely a part-time kid at your house, the dynamics and love of your family were what I strived for as I built my own during the past thirty years. I hope Jack and your mother and all of you realize that this is the greatest compliment I can give your father. I will think about him today as I fly a small old fighter plane back to Arkansas and next month when I fly a C-47 (One of his favorite planes) from Israel to Pine Bluff, AR.
I miss all of you and would love to see you and hear from you. I will send a memorial as soon as I get back. I love you all and I know you will miss him greatly, but Oh What a Place He Has Gone!
Mike Galster
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Email: galstermedical@prodigy.net
Just want you Bodie children to know how sorry we are about the death of your father. He was such an outstanding man - so many accomplishments, and best of all he was a wonderful Christian!! He meant so much to our son, Grady, as he was a classmate and good friend of Jan's. Know that your many friends are thinking about you at this time. God has given us memory so we can smell the roses in December - "in remembering we keep what is best as treasures forever." Love and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Jack and Betty Perryman
Rod Cole
Hope, Arkansas
Email: crodc@hotmail.com
The staff of Rick's expresses our heartfelt sympathy for Jack's family. Jack was a special friend and one of our "dive buddy's". He will be sadly missed by all of us who had the prividge of getting to know him.
Rick Newton
From the staff of Rick's Dive 'N Travel Center
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: rick@ricksdivecenter.com
Beth, We had been out of town and just learned of your Dad's death this evening. You and your family will be in our prayer's.
Randall & Marilyn Hampton,David,Daniel,Chris &Jim
Hope, Arkansas
Randy, Allison, Brett, Bradley, and I would like to express our sympathy to all of you for the loss of your precious father and grandfather. I know that over the years he brought great love and joy to his family and will be deeply missed by each of you as well as his many friends. May the knowledge that Jack is at peace with our Heavenly Father bring you comfort as you remember him. God bless you all.
Sherri Hollis
Hope, Arkansas
Cheryl and I are sorry to hear of Jack's death and that we cannot be in Little Rock with you today as I am playing for another service at First Baptist in Pine Bluff. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Cheryl and Bill Fox
Pine Bluff, AR
Kathy, Steve, Stephanie, Angie and Kristie and other family members, Our love and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Meredith, Marilyn and Michael Archer
De Queen, Arkansas
Email: marcher@cccua.edu
Jim and Twila Pilkinton
Hope, Arkansas
Beth, we are really very sorry for the loss of your father. Our prayers and thoughts are with you on this day. God bless you and all your family.
Barbara Estes and Evelyn Hollis
Hope, Arkansas
Fitzhugh and Hope Spragins (Batesville) and Marie Elder (Jonesboro) Jack was a good friend and an outstanding Christian gentleman. It was a privilege to get to know him. We will miss him.
Fitzhugh and Hope Spragins and Marie Elder
Batesville and Jonesboro, Arkansas
Please accept our deepest sympathy in the loss of your loved one. We will miss him too.
Betty Mc Lellan Jones & Bill Jones Sr.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
To Bill, his brother, and other family members. I have thought of Jack many times in recent years. I called him once and left a message, reminisced about a YMCA hot dog supper we attended. For ten cents, we got two hot dogs on a hamburger bun, baked beans and watched a 4 reel cowboy movie, it did have sound, Bill you probably were not born then. I said it wasn't necessary to call.
Jack was the person that I looked up to and wanted to emulate. I was telling Jean today, he never bullied the younger boys in the neighborhood. He was an outstanding boy and man, one I always enjoyed being with. I still tell a joke that he told me in the summer of 1946. He was one that I talked about when the conversation with friends turned to who we had known that was an exceptional person as we grew up. I was proud to say I was a friend of his and my thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
Gerald Triplett
Email: gtriplett@jam.rr.com
Beth, My deepest sympathy to you and your family. From experience I know what a diffuclt time the days ahead will be, but you faith and strength in God will see you through. My prayers are with you all.
Cindy Taylor
BancorpSouth
Hope, Arkansas
Beth, Thinking of you and your family.
Canelia Hasley
BancorpSouth
Hope, Arkansas
Beth, Thinking of you.
Paula Pack
BancorpSouth
Hope, Arkansas
Beth, Sorry to hear about your Dad, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Ona and Harvey Plyler
BancorpSouth
Hope, Arkansas
Mr. Bodie was one of the great influences in my life. I will never forget one piece of advice he gave me. He said when choosing a career consider seriously your favorite avocations as well. Do not choose a career that keeps you from enjoying your avocations. Great advice that I have handed down to many people.
My dear friend Jan, please know that my prayers are with you in the loss of your Dad. He was a wonderful man!
Grady J. Perryman
Southern Pines, North Ccarolina
Email: perryman@nc.rr.com
To all the Bodie's. I was terribly sorry to hear of Jack's passing. he was such good friend of Dad's and I know he is deeply saddened by his passing. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Steve McIntyre
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: jfms99@sbcglobal.net
I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. I knew him when your family was in Palestine, Texas, where I grew up and later on I saw him from time to time when I was in school in Fayettteville and later in Little Rock.
He was such a fine man and made such an impression on me when I first met him. I always looked up to him. May God bless and comfort you.
David Dickey
Atlanta, Georgia
Email: ddickey44@earthlink.net
To the Bodie family: I knew Jack as a board member of Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home & Family Services. I remember him as an intelligent, committed, caring man who was serious about his board membership and who contributed a great deal to the meetings. I learned of his death after getting home from a trip. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. I pray that you will be comforted by the loving memories of his friends and the knowledge that he meant so much to so many.
Lyn Whaley
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: lynwhaley@veralloyd.org