William Keith Hodges

William Keith Hodges, 76, passed away leaving behind a legacy of hard work, dry wit, and a lifelong love for the open road. Known to everyone simply as Keith—a choice he joked was made primarily to keep the IRS guessing—he was born on December 3, 1949, in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Early Life & Service

Keith was raised by his resilient mother, Natalie Hodges, following the early passing of his father, William O. Hodges. His industrious spirit surfaced early; at just 11 years old, he began working alongside his mother at his Aunt Lilly and Uncle Charley’s grocery store. Between work and school, Keith was outdoors or finding creative ways to get into mischief on his walk to school.

In January 1968, Keith answered the call of duty. A proud U.S. Marine, he served two tours in Vietnam as a mechanic stationed in Da Nang and Quảng Trị. His service was a cornerstone of his character, defining the quiet strength he carried for the rest of his life.

A Master of the Craft

Following the war, Keith followed in the footsteps of his father and brother-in-law, pursuing a career as a welder. He became a true "road warrior" of the industry, traveling across the United States and as far as Panama. Eventually, he found his niche in the pipeline industry. Some of his fondest professional memories included the summers his sons, Owen and Joey, joined him on the job as his helpers, learning the value of a hard day's work firsthand.

Life’s Adventures

Keith was married to the love of his life, Gail, for 43 wonderful years. Together, they raised two sons and later enjoyed traveling to Europe and the parks of British Columbia. After Gail’s passing ten years ago, Keith found solace in the piney woods of East Texas at his hunting club and in the driver’s seat of his Jeep. He had a particular soul-deep love for West Texas; he was never happier than when he was parked at a scenic overlook, coffee in hand, watching the sun light up the canyon walls.

Family

Keith was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gail Hodges; his father, William; his mother, Natalie; and his sister, Donna Hamilton.

He is survived by:

His sons: Owen Hodges and his wife, Lisa; Joey Hodges and his wife, Amy.

His granddaughter: Zoey Hodges

A community of family, friends, fellow hunters, and welders who will dearly miss his stories and his steady presence.

Visitation will be held at Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, TX 77521, US, on March 21, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm.