John Henry Hodge, Jr., of Charlotte, NC, passed peacefully into eternal life early Monday morning, July 29, 2013, at Asbury Care Center, after a brief period of declining health. He was 88 years old. Born September 3, 1924 in Whitmire, SC, he was a son of the late John H. Hodge, Sr. and Blanche Leggett Hodge.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 2, 2013, at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Clint Pressley, the Rev. John Harrill, and the Rev. Arnold Kessler officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Thursday, August 1, 2013, in the church worship center.
A member of what has been coined The Greatest Generation, John was a U.S Army, combat veteran, having served in the European Theatre during World War II with “G” Company, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He received the Bronze Star, Two Purple Hearts and the Prisoner of War Medals.
After being honorably discharged from the service in 1945, and to complete his high school education, John attended Presbyterian Junior College in Maxton, NC. He later attended N.C. State College in Raleigh. Following college, John worked with the Raleigh Police Department as an Officer. In 1956, he started work with Brink’s Inc., where he worked for a number of years before moving to Charlotte in 1968 to become Transportation Officer with a major bank. John retired as a self-employed, wholesale food distributor.
John was a longtime member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, member of the Phil Johnson Sunday School Class and was involved in the music ministry for a number of years.
John was an avid sportsman who enjoyed all sports, especially baseball. He even played “semi-pro” ball in his younger years.
John will be remembered for his strong and unwavering faith in his Lord, Jesus Christ, and as a loving husband, father, brother, and grandpa, who found joy and satisfaction in caring for and spending time with his family.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Mary Gibson Hodge, two brothers, Evann Tucker, who died as an infant, and William K. Hodge.
He is survived by his five children, William Clay Hodge and wife, Kathy, of New Bern, Sheila H. Williams and husband, Skip, of Mint Hill, John G. Hodge and wife, Nina, of Charlotte, Stephen D. Hodge and wife, Patti, of Mint Hill, and Benjamin "Tom" Hodge and wife, Leslie, of Monroe; eleven grandchildren, Bryan Hodge, Christy Curley and husband, Chris, Nick Williams, Crystal Williams, Amber Williams, J.Q. Hodge and wife, Marian, Kaitlin Neal and husband, Adam, Evan Hodge and fiancée, Angel, Brandon Hodge and wife, Brandy, Brittany Allen and husband, Cody, and Christian Hodge; and his special great-granddaughter, Caroline Curley. John is also survived by his two sisters, Peggy Smith and husband, Lawrence, of Laurinburg, and Tecora Steen and husband, Lynn, of Lindale, TX; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family offers a heart-felt thank you to the physicians, nurses and staff that have cared for John during recent weeks. The family also offers their most sincere appreciation to the Aldersgate staff and residents for making John feel welcome and a part of your very special community for the past year and a half.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Hearts and Hammers Ministry, 6050 Hickory Grove Road, Charlotte, NC 28215.
Arrangements under the direction of McEwen Funeral Service - Mint Hill Chapel, Mint Hill, NC. Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.
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