Harry B. Odom, 93, of Damariscotta and Monhegan Island, died Nov. 19. He was a resident of Chase Point Assisted Living in Damariscotta since 2001; his home for over 65 years was Monhegan Island. Harry was born in Quincy, Mass., Oct. 13, 1915, the son of Andrew S. and Harriet H. Odom (both deceased).
Mr. Odom was a graduate of Quincy High School. Following graduation he worked as a Seaman Cadet for Eastern Steamship on the Boston to Nova Scotia run. He also established the Monhegan Island Store with his brothers Sidney and Douglas, which they operated summers until the war. During the winter he worked for the John Bird Co. of Rockland. With the onset of the WWII, Harry enlisted in the Army and was a member of the Ninth Division. He was a Staff Sergeant and Platoon Leader, first fighting in North Africa, then on to Europe fighting in Sicily and France. Harry was part of the landing at Utah Beach. He was wounded twice and received a Purple Heart with Clusters; the Bronze Star; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Prisoner of War Medal. Harry was taken prisoner in Germany and was a POW from August of l944 to April of 1945 when he escaped.
After his discharge in 1945, he returned to Monhegan Island where he and his brother Doug owned and operated the Monhegan Store, cut, housed and provided summer ice for island refrigeration during the summer and stored and delivered kerosene for island heat in the winter. In November of 1963 the store was destroyed by fire. They immediately began to rebuild and the store was open for business in June of 1964. It became a popular gathering place for islanders and visitors alike and was considered to be one of best island stores on the coast of Maine. Family members spent wonderful summers on the island with them. They operated the store until 1979.
Harry was not only a grocer in the summer but a full time lobsterman in the winter. Beginning right after the war he fished from a dory and eventually owned four different boats with his brother before retiring at the age of 79.
Harry and his brother Doug were well known for their generosity and love of Monhegan. The Odom brothers recognized that to keep the fishing tradition alive on Monhegan, young families needed to be able to purchase land. Harry and Doug made that possible.
Mr. Odom was preceded in death by his brothers Sidney A. Odom and Douglas H. Odom; and sister, Jennie Odom Noll.
He is survived by his nephew, Ben Odom and wife Frankie of Cape Elizabeth; niece, Juliet Odom Schweier and husband Jim of Akron, Ohio; grand nieces and nephews, Matthew Schweier and wife Dori, Sydney Odom Clifton and husband Steve, Jenny Schweier Earley and husband Joe, Christopher Schweier and wife Kristen, and Douglas A. Odom and wife Amy; and five great-grand nieces.
Celebration of Harry’s life 11 a.m., Sat., Dec. 13 at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Assoc., (MISCA), 2 Odom Way, Monhegan, ME 04852; Monhegan Island Community Church, P.O. Box 131, Monhegan, ME 04852; Monhegan Museum, 1 Lighthouse Hill, Monhegan, ME 04852; or Monhegan Library, 1 Library Lane, Monhegan, ME 04852.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
