Louis Adine Oden Jr

Louis Adine Oden, Jr. passed away at 89 years old on July 28, surrounded by family. Born in El Paso in 1937 to Louis Adine Oden, Sr. and Ardythe Maxine Dunham, he was the third of four children. In 1939, the family moved to San Benito. He graduated from San Benito High School in 1955, the same year he married his sweetheart, Judy. Together they transformed his childhood home bit by bit into a welcoming oasis, where they spent most of their lives.

Louis began his career operating his father's dragline, and at 30 years old he bought his father’s business, growing it into a premier marine construction business. He ran the company for the next 35 years before handing it off to his son Kevin in 2002. His lifelong friend Faustino "Tino" Rodriguez worked alongside him for more than 40 years, lived on the family property, and became an inseparable part of the Oden family.

Louis was, at heart, a problem solver. He could engineer a solution to nearly anything, whether it was a complicated seawall, a custom built-in for their home, or the perfect ratio of chocolate to ice cream. A talented musician, he was the family's resident two-step teacher, always ready to pull someone onto the floor. His adventurous spirit showed in his love of small planes and in the RV travels he and Judy shared together. He was active in the Catholic Church as a deacon, and he and Judy spent years mentoring couples through Marriage Encounter, many of whom remained close friends for life. He was an inspiration and a role model to anyone lucky enough to hear one of his stories, told with a sideways smile and twinkle in his eye.

He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Jim Oden, Ardythe Ainsworth, and Althea Giles. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Judy Oden, his children Carolyn (Bob) Dawson, Kevin Oden, Erin Oden (Clyde Fickes), and Leslie LaFleur (Bob Hill), his grandchildren Kathryn Dawson (Al Behnke), Andy (Jordan) Dawson, Katie (Kris) Rios, Emily (Chris) Bartnesky, Molly Oden (John Gonzales), Natalie (Cheves) Ligon, Chris Delaney, Alexandra, Caroline, Jackson, and Colton LaFleur, as well as ten great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Oden family will receive friends and family on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Louis's honor may be made to Smile Train and St. Jude’s Hospital.