Owen Everett Hodges

HODGES, Owen Everett was born on April 6, 1918 to Mary Ferrell Hodges and John Hodges of Montgomery County, Tennessee. Owen was educated at Marion, Clarksville and Southside public schools. He then attended Austin Peay University, the University of Tennessee, Columbia University and Peabody College. Owen served for 36 years (2.5 years active duty) in the US Navy during WWII in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippine islands, retiring in 1978. Additionally, Owen was employed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as a County Agent in Davidson County, as the District Supervisor of Agricultural Programs for the University of Tennessee, and as the Associate District Supervisor of the Agricultural Extension Service for District Two, retiring in 1980.He became a Christian before the age of ten and joined Marion Methodist Church. He transferred to Inglewood Methodist Church upon moving to Nashville in 1946, transferring to Bellshire Methodist to become a charter member in 1955. In 1959, he became an active leader at McKendree Methodist, where he chaired various committees, including Finance, Council on Ministries, Membership Building, Staff Parish and became a Lay Leader under Rev. Wallace Chappell, followed by Reverends Ben Alford and Billy Craighead. He continued to serve at McKendree up until his death. Owen was also an active participant in the community. He was a member of the Downtown Kiwanas Club for 36 years, the president of the Farmers Club of Nashville, a member of the board of Directors for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors at the Davidson County Farm Bureau, the Farmer’s Co-op, a member of the Jere Baxter Blue Lodge Masons, Scottish Rites at 7th and Broadway, a Shriner at Al Menah Temple on Brick Church Pike, and a Worshipful Master in the Odd Fellows at Tennessee Lodge No. 1. Owen married the love of his life, Mary Margaret Read of Cheatham County on November 25, 1943 in Columbia, Kentucky where she was teaching at Lindsley Wilson Junior College. Five days later, he left to report to General MacArthur in the South Pacific to serve during WWII, returning to civilian life in 1946. Owen is survived by his wife, Margaret, two sons: Read and Richard, born in 1946 and 1952, respectively, as well as one grandson, Matthew Hodges, born in 1982. Funeral service will be on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 1:00 PM, with visitation from 11:00 until service time at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.