Charles Fredrick Hodges was the second child born to Carl and Agnes Hodges of Hot Springs, Arkansas on February 13, 1931. He was later joined by two younger siblings. This was during the depression years, so things were very hard to come by! However, one thing that was never missing was love in their family. Charley enjoyed living on their small acreage where he helped take care of the cows, chickens, rabbits, and was able to have a horse all his own. He attended parochial school in Hot Springs until the 9th grade, when he went to Subiaco High School in Subiaco, Arkansas, graduating in 1948. Since good jobs were hard to find in Hot Springs, he decided to join some people from Amarillo, Texas working on their farm. Though he had never driven a tractor, he was sure he could learn, and after taking a few fence posts out, he learned to plow a straight row! While working in Amarillo, he received his draft orders to go in the Army, but since he had an uncle in the Navy, he decided to join the Navy, where he served four years. When he was discharged he returned to Amarillo, and it was here he met his wife to be, Sue Briley, at a program dance at Amarillo Junior College. They were married nine months later. Their union was blessed by seven children.
Charley worked in the restaurant business for twelve years, serving as manager for Underwood's Barbeque Cafeterias in Lubbock, Odessa, and Amarillo. Later he went as manager of Denny's Restaurant chain and the family moved to Bryan, Texas in 1968. Later, he worked for Sears Roebuck and then for ten years with Washington National Insurance Co. His next venture was to join his oldest son, Steve in an oilfield pump shop, which he retired because of poor health.
Charley was a devout Catholic, and very dedicated to saying his daily Rosary. He also helped get the Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph's Church started by going for visitation during the hardest time to fill - 2:00 to 3:00 AM daily the first year, and after that he covered an hour each week until his health failed in 2015.
Charley is predeceased by his parents, and his sister, Marie Walter.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue; his four sons, Steve and wife, June, Larry and wife, Theresa, Dick and wife, Nancy, Eddie and wife, Tammy; three daughters, Kathy Laird and husband, Kevin, Kristi Brightwell and husband, Kevin and Cindy Wall and husband, Mark; thirty two grandchildren, Lindy Beasley, Melissa Wren, Jacob Hodges, John Hodges, Cody Hodges, Amber Campise, Kristy Carpio, Stacy Tomlinson, Jody Luckey, Tammy Dutschke, Kyle Flippin, Garrett Flippin, Sondra Flippin, Katie Parsons, Craig Laird, Todd Laird, Lindsay Laird, Abby Laird, Kyle Brightwell, Garrett Brightwell, Tate Brightwell, Carson Brightwell, Taryn Brightwell, Trace Brightwell, Sullivan Hodges, Madison Hodges, Whitney Hodges, Amanda Wall, Parker Wall, Caitlyn Wall, Connor Wall, Caroline Wall; his siblings, Carl L. Hodges and his wife, LaMarilys Hodges of Carnegie, OK, and Virginia Elledge and her husband, Jim of Spring, Texas; fourteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
