Ralph "Dave" Dodson
July 14, 2010JACKSONVILLE - Ralph “Dave” Dodson, 76, of Jacksonville, passed away Wednesday July 14, 2010 at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel with Rev. Larry Haggard officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.
Ralph D. Dodson was born on July 21, 1933 in Berkeley Springs, WV. He attended school at Berkeley Springs High School until May 1953. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 4, 1953. Completing recruit training at MCRD, Parris Island in August 1953, he was assigned as a Rifleman with orders to MCDec, Quantico, VA, and subsequently to Norfolk, VA to train reservists on the rifle range. In October 1954, he was ordered to the 1st Marine Division in Korea, serving with MP Company until May 1955 when he returned to MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. In May 1956, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps for duty at MCAS, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as a disbursing clerk. In March 1959, he received orders to HQMC, Washington, DC and served until 1962. Ordered to MCAS, Cherry Point, NC, he then attended the Advanced Disbursing Course at Marine Corps Service Support schools, Camp Lejeune, NC in March 1962. Following graduation in June 1962, he received orders to the 9th Marine Corps District. In 1955 when Marine Corps Finance Center, Kansas City was established, he was among the Staff NCOs selected to train civilians in the Allotment Branch. He completed this tour in February 1968, and transferred to MCAS, New River, NC as the Disbursing Chief. In January 1973, he returned to Marine Corps Service Support Schools, Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as Chief Inspector of the Disbursing Instructional Section where he was promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant on September 1, 1973. He remained there until February 1978 when he received orders to the 3rd Force Service Support Group in Okinawa as the Disbursing Chief. He then transferred to the 2d Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, NC in March 1979, where he served as the Disbursing Chief until his retirement date. After retirement, Dave continued his government service for the next fourteen years at the Marine Corps Service Support Schools, Camp Lejeune, NC by instructing service members in Marine Corps Finance.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dodson’s awards and decorations consist of the following: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), Vietnam Service Medal w/5 devices, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/1960, Navy Achievement Medal w/combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation w/1 Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation w/palm & frame, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Mr. Dodson was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lola Dodson; one brother; and one sister.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Patricia “Pat” Dodson of Jacksonville; son, Thad Dodson and wife, Emily of Jacksonville; two daughters, Tammy Dodson Samz and husband Kevin of New Bern; Tina Dodson Sbrocco and husband Daniel of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Kiley Samz, Sarah Dodson, Samuel Dodson, and Jessie Sbrocco; and five brothers.
The family will receive friends Frdiay evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday at the funeral home.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Wounded Support Fund, PO Box 9538, Camp Lejeune, NC 28547.