Paul David Bodman

Paul David Bodman Paul was a loving person who strived to be good and to do good. His smile was a constant fixture and was wide enough to light up any room. Paul was very shy, but he worked to overcome that shyness. He would walk up to any one he didn’t know, extend his hand and say, “Hi - Paul Bodman” and try to engage in a conversation on his comfortable topics of trains, Astros, Aggies, and weather (usually forecasting rain). He loved the outdoors, especially camping in the family camper; steam railroads, particularly the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, NM where he worked as a volunteer one summer; and anything that was a working mechanism like his windmill and pinwheels. He was keenly observant of nature, finding caterpillars for our butterfly hut, new plant sprouts in the garden, and fruit and vegetables ready for harvest or that needed to “grow bigger”, spiders and their webs, tadpoles that are changing to frogs and toads. He shared all this with anyone he could. He was very kind and loving; he would frequently point out a spray of flowers in the garden or in the wild and tell his mother, “Flowers for you”. He loved all animals. His first impulse when meeting a new animal was to reach out to caress. He Really Loved babies and toddlers, and always asked them to smile. He was quick to notice things that were broken, worn, or out of place and needing repair or replacement. He always let us know when phones needed recharging, batteries needed replacing, air filters needed changing, and car fuel tanks needed filling. He marveled at all of nature, regarding storms and rain with a mix of fascination and trepidation. He appointed himself the family meal planner, suggesting dinners from what we had in the pantry and freezer. Every meal included salad with lots of Italian dressing. His favorite meal was spaghetti and meatballs, though he often lobbied for “yummie steaks”. On trips to the library Paul would bring home cookbooks and state books that he would use for planning family meals and vacations. His favorite toys were skunks, Batman, and He Man action figures. Paul enjoyed and was very good at working puzzles. Paul was extremely close to his brothers, Mark and Robbie, spending countless hours with them watching movies (especially Mister Rogers, Batman, and He Man), listening to sports, mostly Astros baseball and Texas A&M Aggies football games, as well as engaged in their own games of “Marty Maxwell”, “He-Man”, “Yats”, and “Bonk”. His favorite movie was Lady and the Tramp, specifically how Tramp protected Lady and was eventually loved and adopted by Lady’s family. Paul and his brothers would collapse in gales of laughter at body noises, or even the mere mention of them. He often conspired with his brothers to get us to go through the local car wash. He enjoyed softball and social gatherings with the Legends, urging Coach B to dance like Orbit every time he came up to bat. The sweetest sound in our house was the joyful chatter between the brothers when all three got home from being apart at their respective individual outside activities. Now there will be one less voice in that beautiful cacophony. Paul was a person of few words, but the words he said had far deeper meaning than just what they were. His words conveyed that he knew who you were, he cared about you, and he wanted to connect with you and you with him. Anyone who Paul got to know well was asked if they snored, and women would often receive the compliment “I like your hair”, which was he way of telling you he liked you. He had deep respect for anyone who could read, a personal goal of his that was not completely mastered. He loved to hug and be hugged. He often asked about his aunts and uncles and cousins and their children whom he all knew by name. Paul was a special Catholic. He had a deep reverence for the Mass and a special connection to the True Presence in the Holy Eucharist. When he was young he exclaimed “there’s Jesus” and asked his mother to feel his heart as it raced upon seeing the Holy Eucharist at Consecration. At the introduction to the Epistle during Mass when the reader would proclaim a reading from St. Paul, Paul would say “That’s me.” During family rosary he led an abbreviated version of the second decade and always added the invocation after the “Hail Holy Queen” prayer, “St. Joseph, Protector of the Church, pray for us”. Paul was born March 28, 1978 in Wharton, Texas to Michael Paul Bodman and Virginia Evelyn Bodman. He was baptized in the Catholic faith at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City, Texas on May 6, 1978, received his First Holy Communion June 7, 1987, and confirmed at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Robstown, Texas in May, 1992. He was a lifelong Texan having lived in Bay City, Carrollton, Corpus Christi (Calallen), Grapevine, and Spring, Texas. Paul died suddenly and unexpectedly on August 30, 2025 in the family home in Spring, Texas when his heart stopped. Although he graduated from Grapevine High School in 2000, he considered himself a Calallen Wildcat (the majority of his school years were in Calallen) and a Texas Aggie (he had a family of Texas A&M graduates and his Grammy and Papa lived in College Station). Paul attended the day program at Bridgewood Farms in Conroe the last 20 years where he had several friends. We, his parents, feel honored and humbled to have been selected by God to be Paul’s parents. We marveled at his achievements when others said he could not, but still encouraged him to strive for more. We were worried about who would love, cherish, and care for Paul when we could not; well, God answered by revealing His plan. We will miss Paul deeply until we meet again. Survived by: Brothers: Mark Anthony Bodman, Robert John “Robbie” Bodman Parents: Michael Paul Bodman, Virginia Evelyn “Ginny” (Bockholt) Bodman Grandparent: Virginia (Startz) Bockholt Aunts and uncles: John Taylor Bodman, Stephen Bodman, and wife Nancy, Philip Bodman, and wife Betty, Christiane, and husband Gary Wittie Predeceased: Grandparents: John Ignatius Bodman, Corinne Elizabeth Bodman, Anton Bockholt Aunts and uncles: Anita Bodman, Dianne, and husband Floyd Darling To give online: (https://givebutter.com/inhonor) oln1xLc2SGE2swazlnf3eP8XSpbfl4kfb4oJHpaC.jpg In Honor Of Paul Bodman Checks can be noted “In honor of Paul Bodman” and sent to: Bridgewood Farms 11680 Rose Rd Conroe, TX 77303

Paul David Bodman

March 28, 1978 - August 30, 2025