Charles Thomas Odum, 84, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, passed peacefully October 8, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center after a long journey with Frontotemporal Dementia.

Mr. Odum was born November 4, 1940, in Lumberton, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents Howard and Annie Odum, two brothers James and John, and a sister Anne Britt.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen Prevatte Odum and two sons Charles Winston Odum (Pamela) of Flemington, NJ, and Christopher Thomas Odum (Michele Lifshen and her daughters, Charlotte & Alex Reing) of Winston-Salem, NC; grandchildren Danielle & Louis Odum; sisters Elizabeth Tyner of Boone, NC and Catherine Tyner of Lumberton, NC; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Charles joined the United States Navy in 1960 and served as a member of the VXE-6 Antarctic Development Squadron. His Navy service included stations in Subic Bay Philippines, McMurdo Station Antarctica and Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA. He was honorably discharged in 1966 as a Noncommissioned Officer at the rank of Petty Officer Second Class.

Following his service in the Navy, Charlie worked as an executive for Boy Scouts of America where he was a District Executive for the Tidewater Council (VA-NC) and Miami-Dade County Council (FL). His years of work with the BSA earned him the prestigious Order of the Arrow. He moved on to become a partner with Greenbrier Automotive Group in VA. Beach, Virginia, where he was recognized multiple times as a Hundred Champion by the Chrysler Corporation for his exceptional commitment to quality, leadership, teamwork, and customer satisfaction. Charlie retired in 1998, and he and Helen moved to Ocean Isle Beach, NC for their retirement years together.

Mr. Odum was a member of Shallotte Presbyterian Church, and The National Automobile Dealer Council. Charlie was admired by his family, friends, and employees for being a “Go Getter.” He was musically gifted as both a pianist and a singer. He was a fine tenor who sang with the Bluejackets Navy Choir, and locally with the Sea Notes Choral Society, Shallotte Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and the Carolina Master Choral in Myrtle Beach, SC. He was the life of the party as he often entertained guests with his piano skills playing from memory into his early 80’s. Charlie enjoyed competitive Pro/Am golf, played softball well into his 70’s, and recreational skiing with the family. He was determined not to lose to anyone…. ever. He gave everything he had every day of his life, including his battle with FTD dementia. Charlie’s tenacity and generosity serve as a testament to his Christian values.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 3:00pm at Shallotte Presbyterian Church, 5070 M. H. Rourk Dr., Shallotte, NC 28470. Visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the Memorial Service.

In lieu of flowers, it would please the family that others could be helped through gifts made in honor of his life to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians, Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401-7335.