Robert "Bob" Dodson
August 26, 1938 – July 7, 2026
Robert (Bob) Dodson of Ottawa, Kansas, peacefully passed from this world on July 7, 2026. He was born August 26, 1938, in Clinton, Missouri, to Orville and Isabel Dodson. He was the youngest of six kids: four boys (George, Russell, and Elmer) and two girls (Carmenita and Russie). The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in his early youth, and he grew up just east of downtown. He remained in Kansas City until 1969, when he moved to Ottawa, wanting to raise his family in a small-town environment.
He married Sue Patridge of Trenton, Missouri, in 1960, and they had two children: a son, Robert (JR), and a daughter, Donielle Dodson. Robert (JR) and his wife, Kloria Dodson, have two sons, Nicholas and Dilon. Nicholas and Brooke have two sons, Theodore and Charles, and Dilon and Alexis have a son, Calum. Donielle had a daughter, Georgia, and a son, Hal. He was blessed in 2017 with being united with a third child, a daughter, Jan Karasch, and her husband Randy Karasch, and her sons Randy Petersen and Joshua Karasch, and her daughter Jessica Ashpole; they had not previously known of one another. Sue passed away in 1983, and he later remarried Pamela Altendorf (Long) in 1986, Bob and Pamela would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this November.
Bob had a passion for flying at an early age. He talked a banker into loaning him $2,500 to buy an Alon Ercoupe while working at Dolly Madison as a journeyman baker in 1960. (Long time DOM and friend Robert Bowers helped him reacquire this aircraft and it is still flying based in Ottawa, Bob is pictured sitting in it and it may do a flyover at his burial weather permitting.) He earned his pilot's license and added ratings until he became a flight instructor. He developed a new career by traveling weekly to small towns like Ottawa, Gardner, and Osawatomie to teach students to fly! This expanded to locating and selling aircraft to newly minted pilots who wanted aircraft. In 1967, he started Dodson Aviation Inc. at Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, Kansas, providing aircraft services and buying and selling aircraft, later moving it to Ottawa, where it still operates today!
Bob acquired his PPL, instrument, commercial, CFI/I, MEL, seaplane, and rotor-wing ratings as well. He helped hundreds of pilots achieve their dreams of flight.
In 2015, he received the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Bob traveled for 50-plus years all over the world, buying aircraft and making many friends and deals! And as most anyone can attest, Bob never met a stranger! He operated avionics shops and engine and component overhaul shops, and had aircraft rebuilt and resold. He operated a charter company and even started a charter airline and maintenance shop in Africa for many years! He leased aircraft to Bon Jovi, Metallica, Def Leppard, Clint Black, etc., and sold aircraft to Alice Walton, Franklin Graham, and many others. He was with a trade delegation with Governor Finney from Kansas to Russia, and traveled to many other locales worldwide. He attended aviation trade shows and events in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. He interacted with thousands of wonderful people as customer, vendor, associate, and friend during his lifetime! While many of these ventures were successful and others were not, he was always optimistic and resilient regardless.
He enjoyed meeting new people and traveling, was a voracious reader, enjoyed playing blackjack at the KC casinos, and, most of all, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was small in height but big in personality and deed. He could accomplish most things in” 5 seconds” and always had “$5” to buy you lunch with or without having his wallet! He was generous to a fault and helped and gifted to many people over the years. He was instrumental to many people who enjoy successful lives, careers and companies after working with or for him
.Bob was a very proud American and student of American history. He admired Presidents Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump !
He was a “deal maker” and accomplished a great many things despite humble beginnings. He had a positive effect on many people's lives and that was his Best Deal Ever!
Rest in Peace Dad, you have earned it!
JR Dodson
VISITATION
Wednesday July 15, 2026
6 PM to 8 PM
Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home
325 S. Hickory St.
Ottawa, Kansas 66067
FUNERAL SERVICE
Thursday July 16, 2026
10 AM
Westminster Presbyterian Church
401 W 13th St.
Ottawa, Kansas 66067