Rev. Ron Hampton officiated at the services. Burial followed in Trigg Memory Acres in Cadiz.
Rev. Hodge died on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, at 5:30 a.m., at his residence of natural causes.
Rev. Hodge was born on May 25, 1924, in Altus, Ark. He was the son of the late Bennie David and Anna Mae Ray Hodge.
Rev. Hodge was a U.S. Army Veteran, having served in WWII; was a graduate of Oakland City College in Oakland City, Tenn.; was a General Baptist Minister for nearly 55 years, having retired from the Princeton General Baptist Church in April 2005. He has served in several churches in Missouri, Oklahoma, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky; also served as a General Baptist Missionary on Guam for five years. After moving to the Rockcastle Community, Rev. Hodge, his wife, and daughter and former son-in-law were owners of Handy Korner Market from March 1976 until October 1991.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Michael Leonard Hodge; four brothers, Arnold Hodge, Billy Hodge, Jimmy Hodge, and Virgil Hodge; four sisters, Mildred Porch, Edith Parshall, Donna Gowin, and Wanda Hodge.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Betty Jane Winder Hodge of Cadiz; two daughters and sons-in-law, Christine and Clayton Ladd, and Gayl and W.J. DeSpain, all of Cadiz; two brothers, Charles Hodge, and Jerry Hodge, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; a sister, Norma Jean Hodge Hawkins of Carbondale, Ill.; five grandchildren, Melinda DeSpain Sanborn, Dana Thoune Matlock, Patrick DeSpain, Jared DeSpain, and Hanna Eichhorn; two step grandchildren, Kesha Ladd, and Kendra Terrell; eight great-grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Matlock, Benna Lynn Matlock, Joseph DeSpain, Daniel DeSpain, Danielle DeSpain, Jordan DeSpain, Aaron DeSpain, and Abigayl Sanborn; two step great-grandchildren, Austin Leudenburg, and Jacie Smith.
Serving as pallbearers were Melinda Sanborn, Dana Matlock, Patrick DeSpain, Jared DeSpain, Hanna Eichhorn, and Steve Peters.
Music was provided by Janet Towler, pianist, and Chris Ladd, Dana Matlock, and Bobbi Jo Matlock, vocalists.
