Victoria Bode's Obituary
Victoria Moore Bode left this Earth to work full-time for the Lord on March 18, 2019, after a short but difficult bout with brain cancer. She was born in September, 1952 to Jack M. and Dorthea Kane Moore in Elkhart, In. and was preceded in death by her parents. Victoria is survived by her husband Lee Bode, daughter Jennifer Bode, and her sister Kathleen (Abdul) Aziz, all of Tucson.
In December 1959, the family decided to move to a warmer climate and arrived in Tucson, AZ on January 2, 1960. After attending Tucson High School, Vicky continued her education at the University of Arizona, finishing with a bachelors degree in chemistry. Vicky was a lifelong Wildcat fan and wore her U of A colors proudly.
She found her first and only job on a U of A jobs board with the Tucson Crime Lab. Vicky worked in a variety of jobs including drug analysis and blood alcohol analysis. On a rare field assignment she found a deceased man under a mattress in a local apartment complex. Almost everyone has heard a version of the story of when she shot a hole in a wall test firing a gun because the firearms people were out to lunch. Most of her last decade of service to the crime lab came as a Quality Control Manager where she led the lab thru several reauthorization audits.
Vicky loved to play pranks on her co-workers. Anyone who was employed at the crime lab for any length of time has their favorite story to tell. Some called Vicky their “work mom” as she guided and counseled many a new hire with both personal and professional problems. Some called her a sounding board for that pesky issue that would not go away. Her office was always considered a “safe zone” where anything could be discussed.
Her work life was made richer by the long working relationship with administrators Walter Tannert and Susan Shankles and the guidance of other administrators with whom she served for shorter periods of time.
One worker summed up her life this way: “Thank you for always being a kind and encouraging guiding light for young forensic scientists. You provided a safe place for many to grow and learn. Your sense of humor brightened every day an always kept us on our toes. I will carry your memory with me always as a reminder to always find the fun in working to always be the best I can be. Thank you for everything!"
Vicky was looking forward to retirement in October of the this year until an Emergency Room visit revealed the devastating existence of terminal brain cancer. But she retained her smile and positive attitude until the end.
Services will be held at Evergreen Mortuary-Cemetery Chapel on Monday, April 1 at 10:00 AM with Rev. John Cheek officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Gospel Rescue Mission.
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