Odessa Teresa Gilmore transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior on November 28, 2022. Born in New Mexico on October 9, 1926, to Charles and Amanda Thompson, she was one of five children. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas where she attended Phillis Wheatly High School graduating at the age of 16 after having "skipped" four grades in elementary and junior high schools. She attended junior college for only one year because she didn't have the financial resources to graduate. She worked at the local pharmacy until she gave birth to her first child, Clifford Charles. Shortly after, she met and married Airman Alvin L. Gilmore, Sr. on January 22, 1949.

Odessa and Alvin Sr. were deployed every two years to Air Force bases around the US. Hence, they gave birth to twin daughters, Annette and Jannette in San Antonio, Texas, their son, Alvin Jr. in Anchorage, Alaska, and their youngest child, Deborah, in Oxnard, CA. They finally settled in Lompoc, CA in the fall of 1963 upon Alvin Sr's retirement from the Air Force.

After returning to school at the age of 40 she earned a medical assistant certificate and was hired by the Lompoc Valley Medical Group in 1966. She was the "insurance lady" at the Lompoc Valley Medical Group for the next 30 years until her retirement in 1996. In those 30 years, while working full time, she raised two families- her five children and seven grandchildren.

Affectionately known as Henny-Penny, Odessa, mom, grandma, Auntie Dessa, Miss Odessa, and mama Gilmore she lived a life that exemplified the Christian tenets of generosity, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, non-judgment, and love towards family, friends, and strangers. During the holidays she could be found in her kitchen preparing a delicious meal for whoever showed up at the Gilmores. She loved to play Keno and video slot machine at Chumash, was an avid Lakers fan, possessed a quick but subtle sense of humor, and loved to listen to gospel music.

Odessa was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Amanda, her husband, Alvin L. Gilmore, Sr., her brother, Charles Jr. and her sister Louise May Humphries of Texas, her daughter, Jannette Gilmore, and her son, Clifford Gilmore.

Odessa is survived by her sisters Mary Hamilton and Sandra Lowe of Texas, her daughters, Annette Rogers and Deborah Gilmore, her son Alvin L. Gilmore, Jr., eleven grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, and fourteen great-great-grandchildren.

Services are being held for Odessa on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel at 123 North A Street, Lompoc CA 93436. Visitation will be at 10:00 am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:15 am then the Repass will take place at the Events Mission Valley, 138 North B Street, Lompoc, CA 93436. immediately following the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial donation be made to offset funeral costs. Donations can be made via Venmo at "Alvin Gilmore @Alvin-Gilmore".