When Odes Richard Solkema was born on 25 October 1907, in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, his father, Roelof "Roy" Andries "Andrew" Van Solkema, was 28 and his mother, Catherina Odelia "Rena" Kuick, was 28. He lived in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States in 1920. He died on 9 January 1994, in Spring Valley, San Diego, California, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Fort Rosecrans, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States.