Robert Lee Hodges, 92, was born June 6, 1926, in Halifax County to Walter and Ora Hodges. He went to his heavenly reward Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018.
After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served in World War II and the Korean War for six years. When he was discharged from the U.S. Navy, he married Edith Norris, the love of his life, and graduated form Virginia Tech, then known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He served Virginia Tech and the State of Virginia for 35 years as a soil scientist.
Robert was a devoted Christian serving in various positions in his church. He was ordained a deacon in 1958 and served in that capacity until 1993. He organized young adult Sunday school classes in two churches: First Baptist Church of Ashland, Virginia; and Grace Baptist Church of Williamsburg. He also served as a volunteer missionary to Mali testing their soils for food crops.
Robert loved his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Vaden; sister, Margaret Witt; and two of his children, Elizabeth Marie and David Alan.
Robert is survived by his wife Edith; five children and their spouses, Deborah and John Boyd, Rebekah and Arthur Reitz, Charlotte and Edwin Hall, Lydia and David Gershman and John and Elizabeth Hodges; six grandchildren, Michael (Amber) Reitz, Robert Reitz, Steven (Virginia) Hall, Jonathan Hall, Madeline Boyd and Kimberlee (Sean) O’Neal; and two great-granddaughters, Sadie O’neal and Angelina Reitz.
The family would like to thank the Hospice House and all of the dedicated doctors and nurses who cared for our loved one. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice House, 4445 Powhatan Parkway, Williamsburg, VA 23188.
Share online condolences with the family at Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Service.
