THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606020014
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NAPLES, FLA. LENGTH: 51 lines
Walter Montaque ``Monte'' Oden, 75, after a prolonged battle with lung cancer, was called by his creator on the 25th day of May 1996.
Born on Nov. 17, 1919, in Aurora, N.C., he was raised in Norfolk. His parents were the late Lewis Milton Oden Sr. and Virginia Bonner Hooker Oden. He had been a resident of Naples since 1982.
Surviving family members include two daughters, Georgette Oden of Austin, Texas, and Carol Beatty of Santa Cruz, Calif.; a granddaughter, Allison Beatty; and two brothers, Louis Oden of Naples and Dr. Leonard Oden of Norfolk. There are also a number of nieces and nephews living in Virginia.
Mr. Oden attended the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, where he received a B.A. degree and a law degree. Later he received additional legal training at the University of Houston and Northwestern Law School.
During World War II, he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), 1941-1942. In January 1943, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his pilot's wings at Luke Field, Phoenix, Ariz. Later during 1944-1945 he flew in the China, Burma, India (CBI) Theater. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal. In 1972, he retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.
From 1952-1972, he served with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and saw duties in various Far East countries to include Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
After graduation from law school, he practiced law in Hampton. Following his retirement from the CIA in 1972, he was a prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Virginia in Norfolk for some 10 years. In 1981, he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Customs Service, Office of Investigations, for his role in the investigation and prosecution of crimes on Norfolk's waterfront.
He was a member of Moorings Presbyterian Church, Elks Club Naples 2010, VFW Post 7721, Virginia State Bar, Foxfire C.C., and formerly a Toastmaster. He also served in the Guardian Ad Litern program in Naples in judicial court proceedings on behalf of children.
In 1984, he organized the Naples Chapter of Foster Parents Plan (Child Reach) and was the active coordinator for a number of years. This organization was founded in 1937 and helps support children in some 23 third-world countries. The Naples Chapter raised over $35,000 through charity golf tournaments and other events during the time he served as coordinator. In 1987 in Providence, R.I., he was named Volunteer of the Year.
Memorial services will be conducted at Hollomon-Funeral Home, 8464 Tidewater Drive, on Monday, June 3, at 3 p.m. His final resting place will be Forest Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB