Peter H. Rodda

Lieutenant Colonel Peter H. Rodda, U.S. Army, retired, a combat veteran of Vietnam, died on February 7, 2022, in Cumming, GA.  He was born August 17, 1944, in Erlangen, Germany, the son of Herta K. and stepfather, Donald E. Rodda, both deceased. He immigrated to the United States at age 15. He leaves behind his beloved children, Peter Christopher Rodda of Ocala, Florida, and Katie Elizabeth Rodda Grody (Dan), Manhattan Beach, California, and her mother, Judith Rodda of Woodstock, Georgia. His beloved grandson, Mark Fletcher Grody, was the light of his life, his special pride and joy whom he loved dearly. He leaves behind his Aunt Joyse Hess Rodda, cousins Elliott (Brenda), Eric, Gus, Emory and Eli Rodda, from Kansas. Special friends, Linda and Wesley Walraven and their families were especially dear to Pete. Their grandchildren were a part of his life. Peter had childhood friends in Germany whom he visited often.

Pete graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education. He matriculated with honors from The University of Iowa with a Master of Arts degree in business education, selected to Delta Sigma Pi, a graduate scholastic honor society in business education. He also attended the U.S. Army Engineer School, Advanced Officer Adjutant General School, Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, as well as NATO logistics and military intelligence schools.

Colonel Rodda served in various command and staff assignments at company, battalion, corps, Army and Theater Group level in the United States, Germany and Vietnam. Key assignments included duties with HQ US Army Vietnam; Deputy Adjutant General and Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Central Army Group, NATO, Heidelberg, Germany; Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Joint Forces Command, Ft. McPherson, GA, and Chief, Mobilization Branch and Deputy Adjutant General, 2^nd U.S. Army, Ft. Gillem, GA; He commanded units at company to battalion level and served with distinction as Commander, Replacement Detachment, 1st Cavalry Division and Chief, Personnel Services, Office of the Adjutant General, 1^st  Cavalry Division; Commander, Wilkes-Barre Military Entrance Processing Station, PA, with exemplary service as one of the top ten stations out of 55 in the United States for three consecutive years; battalion commander, South Carolina Recruiting Battalion, with his recruiters receiving numerous national honors for exceeding annual recruiting goals. He excelled as senior human resource director in the military and civilian corporations.

Colonel Rodda was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Medal, three awards of the Army Meritorious Medal, and four Army Commendation Medals along with the Presidential Unit Award, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Army after 25 years of outstanding service in 1993.

He moved to Roswell, GA, in 1986 and to Cumming, GA, in 2002. Pete taught high school in Iowa, Illinois and Fulton, Cobb and Forsyth counties in Georgia. As adjunct professor, he was a faculty member in three colleges and universities in the United States and Europe. He held various executive management positions in the food-, software- and communication industries.

Pete gave freely of his time as a competitive swimming coach in the United States and Europe and headed up swimming programs in national aquatics camps. An avid soccer referee, he volunteered his time for over 25 years with youth, college, and adults. As an AARP Driver Safety Program instructor and AARP tax aide, he enjoyed helping others for many years. He also served in key positions on various executive boards of non-profit organizations. As an avid supporter of the American Red Cross, he was honored with two national awards for his exceptional volunteer services.

An active member of various catholic and Methodist churches, he took on the responsibilities for many years as food-pantry coordinator, treasurer, trustee, caretaker of the cemetery. institutional representative for Scouting, and coordinator for community outreach programs. Pete enjoyed singing throughout his youth and adult life and sang in church and local community choirs for many years.

Pete was a Golden Life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cumming. GA., He raised thousands of dollars for "Help Hospitalized Veterans," and the USO charities. Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.

Funeral services will be held on March 21, 2022, at 12:00 PM, in the chapel of Ingram Funeral Home with the Reverend John Adams officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, GA. The family will receive friends on March 21, 2022, at Ingrams Funeral Home from 11:00 until 12:00 PM.

 In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to St. Jude Children's Hospital at www.stjude.org, or mail toSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.