John E. Bodin, Sr., 79, of Ben Hill County, Georgia, a self-appointed food critic, road warrior, music mogul, Veteran, Shriner, and cologne connoisseur, died Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 3 PM, Sunday, January 31, 2016, at Bethel United Methodist Church, in Telfair County, with the Rev. Gary Carter officiating. Interment will follow in the Bethel Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening, from 5 to 7, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald and also after the service on Sunday, at the church.
Mr. Bodin was born October 20, 1936, in Stockton, California, to the late Frank & Eva Holland Bodin. He served his country honorably in the United States Army and was a Mason and a Shriner for over 40 years. John led a colorful life filled with family, food, and tons of laughs. His career was one of his proudest accomplishments. It began in Nashville, Tennessee in 1971 as a producer for the biggest country Music superstars at the Grand Ole Opry. Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, and Willie Nelson were among his greatest friends and talent.
John moved on to his second career which was supervising numerous publishing journals. Over the years, his most significant accomplishment was being a Georgia Supervisor for the POAG. As a lifetime member, John’s concern for public safety officers was apparent and felt by everyone. He has always had a passion for helping others. Thirty-years of his life was devoted to this stage and then he moved on to those darn plants!
Bodin’s Tropicals was a love/hate relationship for John and his wife, Corrine. They traveled from Tennessee to South Florida, and all the way to Alabama for festivals. Customers would be attracted to John’s energy and knowledge of the plant business. Three greenhouses and 18 years later, this labor of love is what remains.
Day to day life for John was filled with music blasting from the back room, stacks of National Geographic magazines, and a new DVD every week boasting an impressive collection that would rival any movie buff.
During his many years of travel, John visited every corner of the U.S, visiting 49 of 50 states with a trinket to match each one. It was also a must to visit a minimum of one museum in every state, being the history buff like he was.
Food was his main love affair in every town he visited, he had laser vision pointed toward a town’s five star buffet, and of course dessert was a must! As a self-appointed food critic, he had his critique prepared before the main course was even over! And God forbid if there was any hidden white pepper in his food. It gets him every time! If the service wasn’t right and the water wasn’t ready, he was heading out with the kids! Museums and entertainment were of course important, but food was always first.
His love affair with food was comprised of REAL Kraft mayo and peanut butter sandwiches, peach cobbler straight out of the oven, “Smack your mama” fried chicken 3x a week, Corrine’s homemade canned strawberry preserves, lima beans, and don’t forget his high noon “Tea” of Snickers and a Pepsi.
With all of his passions, travel, and career accomplishments, John always emphasized family first and love for one another. He would always march to the beat of his own drum, much to the chagrin of his children, but that was what made John the man he was! All the stories he told, some exaggerated for flair, and all the songs he sang, he was always ready to perform. We only ever got a small glimpse through a window into his own story, always keeping an air of mystery and never revealing his full self. His family will always feel his love for years to come, looking through that open window and knowing that he will be with us forever.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years: Corrine Visser Bodin; children: Michalle Bodin-Mumma, John Bodin, Jr. & Barbara, Patrick Bodin & Chrissy, Eva Stolman, Melody Holladay & Jay, and David Kyle Bodin & Atika; grandchildren: Victoria Alvarenga & J.L., John Bodin III & Allison, Rebecca Bodin, Rachel Bodin, Michael Bodin, Naomi Farmer & Stephen, Louis Bodin, Stuart Bodin, Lilian Bodin, Miranda Mumma, Alex Mumma, Lauren Wither, Bradford Wither, Carly Holladay, Shelby Holladay, Aaron Bodin and Elizabeth Bodin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his children: Joe Bodin and an infant daughter: Eva Marie Bodin.