Ronald Joseph Hodgson

Ron was born April 13, 1932 in Bisbee, Arizona to Marshall and Raye Vickers Hodgson. Along with his parents and younger sister Marsha, Ron spent his early years around the copper mining towns in southern and eastern Arizona. It was in Arizona, with his grandfather Elmer Vickers, that he began his love of the outdoors and camping in the nearby mountains.

In the early 1940’s, the family moved to the borax mining town of Boron in the Mojave desert of California. Living at the Gephart School where his mother was a teacher, Ron began lifelong friendships and grew to love the desert and especially the nearby eastern Sierras. Slick loved to tell stories of explorations in the desert and mountains in the jalopies he and his buddies cobbled together from whatever they could get their hands on.

With no high school in Boron, Ron made the hours long bus trip each day to Lancaster to attend Antelope Valley High School. He joined the Navy Reserve and told of staying after school for Reserve meetings and drills. Attempting to hitchhike back to Boron afterwards, he often couldn’t get all the way home so would turn around and thumb a ride back to Lancaster where he spent the night in the school boiler room.

After graduating from high school and spending a year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ron joined the Navy, serving in the Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees. Stationed in Trinidad and Cuba, he drove trucks, operated heavy equipment and worked at the ports loading and unloading ships. One of the major projects he was involved in was the construction of the base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

While growing up in Boron, Ron met his beloved first wife and the mother of his children, Barbara Jean Thomas. They were married on June 19, 1954. After completing his service in the Navy, Ron and Jean lived in Morro Bay while he attended Cal Poly. Their first child, Brian, was born while Ron completed his Associate Degree in Mechanized Agriculture. Soon thereafter, the family relocated back to Boron where Ron found work at the

borax mine. Purchasing a home in the Desert Lake development just west of Boron, Ron and Jean had two more children, Tracey, followed by Scott.

Ron worked for US Borax for 38 years. Early in his career he was an Instrument Mechanic in the Maintenance Department. He was active in the union, serving as a shop steward and on the contract negotiating team. In the mid 1960’s Ron was promoted to Instrument Shop foreman. Throughout his career, Ron was well liked and respected by the men and women he worked with and supervised. Humor and storytelling were always a part of life at work and at home.

Ron was active in the community during all his years in Boron. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the Twenty Mule Team Twirlers square dance club, the Outbackers four wheel drive club and served for many years in the Boron Unit of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, including as Unit Captain.

Camping and fishing in the eastern Sierras along with off road explorations of the mountains and desert, especially old mining areas, were some of Slick’s favorite pastimes. He passed on his love of the outdoors and his knowledge and outdoorsman skills to all of his family.

The family moved to a new home in Apple Valley CA in 1975. Jean was taken much too early from Ron and their children by cancer in 1979. Ron continued to commute to Boron each day, working as the Utility Crew foreman. During the ensuing years he enjoyed many houseboat trips on Lake Powell with friends and family.

Ron remarried in 1986 to Carole Williams. Carole brought companionship and her children Norm, Joe, Paul and Tracy into the circle of the family. Sadly, Carole passed away in 1992.

After retiring from US Borax in 1993, Ron continued to enjoy camping, fishing, off-roading and working in his yard. His beautiful southwest adobe style home with a multitude of antiques, an old wagon, a windmill and many desert shrubs was one of his pride and joys.

Soon after retiring, Ron met Peggy Turner and they were married in 1993. Peggy, her sons Rob and Jeff and grandson Matthew were now part of the family. Ron and Peggy enjoyed traveling and camping in their fifth wheel trailer for many years, including an epic summer long trip to Canada and Alaska on the Alcan Highway. New fishing buddies and friends were found in neighbors in Apple Valley as well as in Peggy’s family members.

When Brian, Tracey and Scott started their families, Ron embraced his role as a grandparent and was often lovingly called Grandpa Slick or Papa Slick. Grandchildren, and later great grandchildren, kept Ron on his toes. He loved to see them and entertain them with his sayings and stories. He especially liked giving them rides in his old Cushman scooter.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife Peggy and his sister Marsha (Tom) Peltzer; his children and their spouses: Brian (Debbie) Hodgson, Tracey (Vince) Cody and Scott (Carrie) Hodgson. He is also survived by grandchildren Joe (Claire) and Scott Hodgson, Sarah and Drew Cody, Kelsea (David) Wetzel, Taylor (Travis) Chapman and Ashton (Paul) Paz. Ron’s six great grandchildren are Hunter Hodgson, Brooks and Emerson Wetzel, Declan Chapman and Brixton and Lenyxx Paz. Peggy’s grandson Matthew and Ron also had a special relationship.

Outdoor graveside services with masks and social distancing will be held Monday October 12, 2020 at 3PM at Joshua Memorial Park, 808 East Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, California. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity.